Susan Traugh - The Edge of Brilliance

The Edge of Brilliance

ISBN # 978-1-78651-767-8

Copyright Susan Traugh 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh Copyright May 2016

Edited by Ann Leveille

Finch Books

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the authors imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Finch Books.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Finch Books. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Finch Books, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Finch Books is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

THE EDGE OF BRILLIANCE

Susan Traugh

Volatile and unstable, Amy stands at the precipice. Will she fall into the chaos and despair of insanity or ascend into brilliance and redemption?

Amy Miles is fifteen and crazy. Or at least thats her greatest fear. Her severe bipolar disorder, with its roller-coaster manic and depressive episodes, is ruining her life. Yet in Amys mind its accepting the pills and therapynot the disorderthat will brand her as crazy.

When Amy lands in a residential psychiatric program, she befriends take-charge Mallory, and the two create family as they try to salvage the shards of their broken minds. While there, Amy also discovers that her illicit drug use has robbed her of her ability to dance and she is forced to weigh how hard shes willing to work to reclaim her lost talent and potential. But, despite a promising beginning, when Amy falls back into denial, the tragic consequences cannot be undone.

Amy is left to decide whether to give up altogether or to accept her diagnosis and the tools she needs to battle her disorder, to learn to dance again and to forge a new and improved version of herself. Will she step up to the edge of her brilliance and shine?

Dedication

To my daughtersand all young people who fight the demon of mental illnessand the caregivers who support them in that fight.

Authors Note

While this is definitely a work of fiction, most of the events of the story are loosely based on true experiences. Like some other families out there, ours has a history of severe mental illness interlaced with creative genius. I wrote this book to honor the strength and absolute heroism of my daughtersand all young people who must do battle each day just to deal with the challenges of their mental illness.

I also wrote a story of hope, for I have seen how, with medication and support, people with mental illness can not only survive, but can become some of the most amazing beings on this planet.

If you are a young person struggling with mental illnesshave hope, get help, know that your struggles will only make you stronger and your unique journey will make you just that much more interesting.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Disneyland: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Juicy: ABG Juicy Couture, LLC

WWF: World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.

KMart: Sears Brands, LLC

Cheerios: General Mills IP Holdings I, LLC

Styrofoam: Dow Chemical Company, The Corporation

Monopoly: Hasbro, Inc.

Space Mountain: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Tower of Terror: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Cream of Wheat: B & G Foods North America, Inc.

The Cheshire cat: Lewis Carroll

The Wizard of Oz : Frank L. Baum

Scrabble: Hasbro, Inc.

Twister: Hasbro, Inc.

CinemaScope: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Civic: Honda Gaiken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Hondo Motor Co., Ltd.) Corporation

Rockettes: Radio City Trademarks, LLC

Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts of the United States of America Congressionally Chartered Non-Profit Corporation

Quirky, YesHelpless, No: Cynthia La Brie Norall and Beth Wagner Brust

The Difficult Child: Stanley Turecki and Leslie Tonner

Prologue

True heroism consists in being superior to the ills of life, in whatever shape they may challenge us to combat.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Dance with me, Mama. Fifteen-year-old Amy Miles stood eye to eye with her mother, arms extended wide, her expression full of hope and expectation. It didnt matter that her mothers arms were full of dirty dishes. It didnt matter that her mother was hot and disheveled from running around, cleaning the house. Amy caught her mothers eye looking past her, staring at the messy kitchen counter there beyond Amys lithe, tan body, but Amy stood firm, smilingaskingwaiting for her mothers surrender.

And surrender she did.

With a lilting laugh, Amy slipped her arm around her mothers waist and, in cheek-to-cheek exuberance, dove into her mothers soft, spongy embrace as soon as the dishes touched the table. Barefoot, on tiptoe, they twirled and swooped in a modified waltz to the unheard music wafting through Amys head.

Amy relished the smell of her mothers sweet sweat and jasmine lotion. She felt the older womans breath warm against her nose, knowing that, in turn, her mother was delighting in the scent of her daughter as Amys sure, strong muscles guided their steps around the living room carpet in the ballroom of Amys imagination.

From the corner of her eye, Amy saw her mothers eyebrow furl in that look of consternation she always got when she was thinking of it all. But it didnt matter. Her mothers mind might seek to dwell in painAmy could only dance. The moment of pleasure pulsated in her and her only response was to let it guide her feet. Soft snatches of a tune escaped from Amys throat as she took another spin around the carpet before planting the gentlest kiss on the womans cheek and playfully fluttering butterfly kisses with her eyelashes. Moms quiet chuckle let Amy know shed successfully rescued her mother from that dark place and sent a ripple of satisfied giggles through Amy as she twirled her mother across the floor.

Your skin feels so soft, Mama, Amy whispered as she felt her mother again fall into the kaleidoscope of her fears. They circled the floor once more in their one-two-three glide as snippets of Amys inner tune lighted on the air in snatches of a hum. But her mother was far away.

A furrow formed on Amys forehead and mock pain teased the edges of her playful voice. This is where you say, Oh, thank you, daughter, for your nice compliment, Amy scolded her mom as she turned her lips into the womans crpe-draped neck and blew a tiny raspberry.

A laugh bubbled up Moms throat as Amy uttered those words and snapped the older woman out of her sorrow.

Youre right! Her mother laughed, kissing Amys cheek. Thank you, dear, sweet daughter, for your nice complimentand our dance.

Youre welcome, my dear mother, Amy replied with a sparkle in her eye and drama flaring from her fingertips. Then, in her best Fred Astaire style, Amy pushed her back, twirled her mother under her arm and laid the disheveled woman into a most dramatic final dip.