Some people drown in water. He's drowning in a memory of her.
In the deep end of his own mind, a girl's laugh, a faded photograph, and a small glowing fish lead him further into the dark—toward a memory he's spent every night trying to forget, and a girl he can't stop chasing.
Deep End is a haunting, psychological short story about grief, memory, and the parts of ourselves we build entire oceans to hide from.
Caleb has spent most of his life learning how to disappear.
After being bullied and told, directly or indirectly, that his feelings matter less than everyone else’s, he transfers to a new school expecting more of the same.
But then there’s Lucy.
She’s funny, sharp, and talking to her is easy in a way that throws Caleb off. She notices the things about him that most people miss, and as their friendship grows, so does a small flicker of hope he thought he’d lost.
But understanding another person is never as simple as it seems.
As Caleb and Lucy grow closer, both are forced to confront the parts of themselves they would rather avoid. Lucy keeps some things close to her chest, and the more time they spend together, the more Caleb realises there’s a lot she isn’t saying.
What begins as comfort slowly becomes something messier. As misunderstandings deepen and trust is tested, both find themselves facing truths they would rather ignore.
Caleb is eventually left with a question he has never had to face before: Who is he when the person who knows him best no longer understands him?
Quill Without Ink is a story about loneliness, vulnerability, and the complicated ways people learn to survive. Through quiet moments, poetry, and the things left unsaid, it explores what happens when two people desperately want to be understood but struggle to express what they need.
Because sometimes, the hardest words to say are the ones that matter most.
More books are published and free to read!
Nattawat "Winnie" S. is a young indie author who publishes his work online for free. He loves researching about human psychology and writing stories about it, despite not having taken psychology at his school yet. He's a big sucker for Science Fiction. He also makes song covers from time to time on his YouTube. He loves listening to Stray Kids as he works. He lives in Bangkok.
Contact me directly via email nattawat.winnie.s@gmail.com or through Instagram (@fivstar_official).
Music content are on my YouTube!