Empty (22 page)

To anyone out there feeling alone: You’re never alone. There is always someone you can talk to.

To anyone being abused: Tell someone. There is help out there that can make it stop.

To anyone who has been raped: Don’t make excuses like Dell. Tell someone. Today.

And to anyone feeling suicidal, I say this: Even though we’ve never met, I want you to stay alive.

Talk to someone. Today. And if you’re not satisfied with their reaction or level of help, talk to someone else. There is someone out there who will be your advocate.

If you know or even suspect that someone is feeling
isolated or alone or suicidal, reach out to them. Ask if they are okay. Listen. Pay attention to their response. Look them in the eye. See them.

Validate them.

I sincerely hope Dell’s story touched your heart.

K. M. Walton

TO TODD, CHRISTIAN, AND JACK, MY HUSBAND AND
sons, a.k.a. the three loves of my life—thank you for loving me with absoluteness.

To my mom and my three younger sisters, who are my four best friends—I am blessed to call you family.

Much love and thanks to the rest of my family and friends. You make me believe in myself, and that’s priceless.

Thank you to my first readers: Nikole Becker, Margie Pearse, Christina Lee, Kathleen Scoboria, and Elisa Ludwig. Your insight and feedback helped shape Dell’s story, and I will be forever grateful.

To Sarah LaPolla and Annette Pollert, my agent and editor—I still pinch myself because I can’t believe you two geniuses are not only in my life, but are
my
agent and editor. Seriously, it’s been such a privilege to have you both in my corner. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this novel.

Thank you to the entire Simon Pulse team for giving Dell a beating heart. You all helped bring her to life.

Thank you to Radiohead for writing the song, “Codex,” and to Coldplay for writing the song “Paradise.” I must’ve listened to those two songs a million times while writing
Empty
, and with each listen I put myself in Dell’s shoes. In my mind, “Codex” is
for
her and “Paradise” is
about
her.

Thank you, reader, for choosing
Empty
from the stuffed shelves and inviting Dell into your life. I hope you never forget her story.

K.M. Walton
is also the author of
Cracked
. She spent twelve years teaching and loved every minute. She has a penchant for reading
Entertainment Weekly
cover to cover, and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. Visit her at
kmwalton.com
.

Jacket designed by Russell Gordon

Author photo by Todd Walton

simon pulse

SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK

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Also by K. M. Walton

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SIMON PULSE

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Simon Pulse hardcover edition January 2013

Copyright © 2013 by K. M. Walton

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Designed by Mike Rosamilia

The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Walton, K. M. (Kathleen M.)

Empty / K. M. Walton. — 1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.

p. cm.

Summary: Deeply depressed after her father cheated on and divorced her mother, seventeen-year-old Adele has gained over seventy pounds and is being bullied and abused at school—to the point of being raped and accused of being the aggressor.

ISBN 978-1-4424-5359-3

[1. Obesity—Fiction. 2. High schools—Fiction. 3. Schools—Fiction. 4. Self-esteem—Fiction. 5. Family problems—Fiction. 6. Emotional problems—Fiction. 7. Rape—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.W1755Emp 2013

[Fic]—dc23

2012011562

ISBN 978-1-4424-5360-9 (eBook)