Cece's Quiet Bruises: A Story of Love, Control, and Finding Your Voice

There is a Cece in almost every hallway. She's the girl who laughs a little too fast when her boyfriend checks her phone, who stops wearing her favorite color because he said so, who tells herself it's not that bad. Cece Whitfield falls for Marcus fast, drawn in by an attention that feels like being chosen. But sweetness slowly curdles into control: rules she never agreed to, apologies that arrive with flowers, a silence she learns to keep just to keep the peace. When the truth can no longer stay hidden, Cece has to find the courage to say enough, and to relearn that love was never supposed to cost her safety, her voice, or herself. Cece's Quiet Bruises is a compassionate, unflinching young adult novel about teen dating abuse, written for readers, parents, teachers, and mentors alike. It follows Cece from the first sweet weeks of a new relationship through the quiet tightening of control, and finally into the moment she chooses herself. Inside this book, you'll also find: A Pause and Reflect discussion guide at the end of each part Warning signs of abuse in teen relationships Guidance on what to do if you or a friend is in danger National and local hotline resources >Written with care and without judgment, this story will never suggest that staying is strength or that love should cost a young woman her safety. Instead, it walks beside her, through fear, through silence, and into the light of a girl who chooses herself. About the Author Ivy Caldwell is a certified life and trauma coach, ordained elder, author, and speaker, and the founder of Footprint Enterprises LLC and its ministry brand, Stepping Into ANEW You. With more than 25 years working with children and families, she writes to give voice to experiences many carry in silence, and to remind every reader that they are seen, believed, and worthy of safety.