Ethan Brooks

Emma Carter has always been that girl—pretty, funny, outgoing, and incredibly popular. Everyone wants to be her friend, and she seems to know just about everyone at school. One of her closest friends is Ethan Brooks, a laid-back, sarcastic guy who's been by her side for years. Unlike everyone else, he likes her for who she is, not because she's popular. But everything changes when Emma is diagnosed with a serious illness. At first, her friends promise to stick around, but slowly, they begin distancing themselves. Invitations stop coming, conversations become awkward, and the few people who still talk to her act like she's made of glass, constantly treating her with pity. Emma hates it. She doesn't want people to feel sorry for her or act like she's about to break. She just wants to be treated like the same girl she's always been. Ethan is the exception. He still teases her, makes her laugh, and treats her like a normal person. He never pretends her illness doesn't exist, but he refuses to let it define her. As Emma struggles with loneliness and the loss of her old friendships, Ethan becomes the one person she can count on. Everyone else sees her illness first. Ethan still sees Emma. And he's determined to make sure she never forgets who she is.