Innocence

The loss of innocence not only manifests itself within sexual relationships, but also with the awareness of the self. Sydney has never viewed herself as an overly family-oriented person or anybody prone to strong emotional outbursts. She prided herself on feeling strong and pulled together until her relationship dissolves. When she is unable to count on Hunter and Tori as a stabilizing force in her life, she begins to realize that she has lost a piece of her self-image. From the moment Sydney realizes she has been cheated on and deceived, she feels as though her life “really sucks. I know I’m going to have to end up calling one of my friends, but right now, I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone how clueless I’ve been for the last two years. I’ve been completely blindsided” (13). Sydney begins her journey of self-awareness and...