Shine (36 page)

To my Atlanta Dad: You taught me that family isn’t defined by blood. It’s defined by love. You embrace me as your daughter as wholeheartedly as Mama Sweetie welcomes Cat into her warm and open arms. The fact that you’re proud of me—and that you tell me so—makes my heart swell. Children never stop needing their parents; I wish Cat had been as lucky as I am.

Mom, you told me when I was little that I had a light inside of me. Do you remember? You told all of us kids that, I’m sure, but as a seven-year-old, I listened, and I believed, and the faith in myself that you inspired helped that light burn bright. You are the best mom in the world, and I want to be just like you when I grow up. And—as if that wasn’t enough—thanks for reading this novel again and again and again, helping me make it better each time.

Jack, Al, Jamie, and Mirabelle—oh, I love y’all so much. I tell y’all that every day, so I won’t go crazy here, except to say that y’all are the light of my world.

To everyone who shared stories of addiction, abuse, and intolerance: Thanks for helping me understand, and please know that I’m rooting for you. SN, remember your five life goals? Mix ‘em up, dude. Kick the meth and then get yourself a spankin’ new grill. You can do it, I swear to God.

And finally, Susan Van Metre, my beloved editor. I know you get embarrassed when I gush over you, but too bad. I love you for your guidance, your vision, and your relentless drive to
make me burn the midnight oil, get zero sleep, and never get to watch tacky TV
help me be the best writer I can be. More than that, I love you because you are my friend, and—though it does not fall within the job description—you inspire me to be the best me I can be.

LAUREN MYRACLE is the
New York Times
bestselling author of many books for young adults, including the Internet Girls trilogy—
ttyl, ttfn
, and
l8r, g8r
—as well as the supernatural thrillers
Rhymes with Witches
and
Bliss
. She was born in the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Brevard, North Carolina, and she grew up dividing her time between North Carolina and Georgia. She now lives in Colorado, but her love for the South blooms forever in her heart. Visit her online at
www.laurenmyracle.com.

This book was designed by Maria T. Middleton. The text is set in 10-point ITC Century Light, a typeface originally designed in 1894 by T. L. DeVinne and Linn Boyd Benton for
Century
magazine. The Century font replaced older, less legible faces previously used by the magazine. In 1975, designer Tony Stan was commissioned by the International Typeface Corporation (ITC) to revise and expand the Century family. The display font is Gor Light.