Skin‑Deep Longing

At twelve, Layla is diagnosed with Skin Hunger, and for years she leans on her childhood friend Colin to ease the painful flare-ups. But Colin twists her illness into a source of shame, mocking her while chasing other women and telling her she can never manage without him. When his cruelty finally drives her away, hockey captain Alex steps in as her quiet refuge. Kind, protective, and secretly in love with her since freshman year, he helps Layla confront both her condition and the humiliation she has carried. As Colin grows more jealous...