fast
/fast/
adjective
1. A girl or guy who is quick to engage in sexual activities.
Oftentimes used to shame. Oftentimes used to blame victims for their own abuse.
Summary
After the untimely death of her mother, Caprice Latimore has to move in with her grandmother. At eight years old, life as she knows it is turned upside down. The trauma of losing her mother is made worse with the introduction of Marcel, her grandmother’s adult son who still lives in the home.
Her uncle Marcel takes an inappropriate interest in her that ultimately results in a tragic breaking point for the child. The only silver lining is that shortly after what Caprice calls “that night”, Marcel is booked by local police with a drug possession charge. He’s sentenced to prison for twelve years.
Seven years later, Marcel is released on good behavior.
Caprice is now sixteen, still dealing with the emotional scars of the past. But things aren’t like they were before.
Because now she has Shaun Taylor, the boy across the street who will do whatever it takes to make sure no one ever hurts Caprice again.
fast is a standalone that spans twenty years. Separated into three acts, we watch Caprice grow from eight years old to sixteen years old to twenty-eight years old. She gets hurt, she falls in love, she grows, and she just might overcome.
fast is a story written about victims who were made to feel like their abuse was their own fault.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Child abuse, assault in prisons, mental instability, etc.
Some themes touched upon in this story may trigger you. Please protect your mental health.
Story Structure
fast is unlike any story I’ve ever written before it. Because the story is separated into three acts, that means each section of Caprice’s life at ages 8, 16, and 28 will have a beginning, middle, and end.
It’s a very long standalone (I had like two nervous breakdowns on Twitter because of this. If you had to see that, I’m sorry lmao.) fast is going to seem like a three-part series in one book because—technically—it is.
Caprice’s narration at age 8 is probably some of the darkest content that has ever sprung from my fingers. If you’re a mother, or if you even know a child, it will be hard to get through those first four chapters.
OF COURSE, I do not detail scenes of graphic sexual assault. Especially against children. I think the more triggering element of the first act is that, even though the assault isn’t detailed step-by-step, is that you can tell Caprice’s character in the writing is so young. As a reader, you will fill in the knowledge gaps, so reading the tidbits Caprice offers from her childlike frame of reference… it makes for an uncomfortable read.
It was an even more uncomfortable thing to write.
The second and third act of fast are jam packed with their own emotionally impactful moments. I personally think that despite how dark the first act of the story is, the third act is… even darker in reference to a new character. lol, I bet you thought I was going to say I was easing up.
However, there are a lot of laughs between the tears and if you can handle the feels, I really do think a beautiful story is being told. You will laugh, you may cry, but I hope the sadness you have to go through to get to the end is worth it.
The Playlist
