The Stillness After

In the midst of her quiet solitude, Nola forms a deep friendship with Mary, a neighbor whose presence becomes a steady anchor. But as time unfolds, loss touches Nola’s life, and she finds herself leaning on those who have stayed by her side, including Mary’s son, Nic.

Nic—more than eight years her junior—has his own wounds, hidden behind his quiet demeanor and reluctance to commit. Yet, over time, the bond between them deepens, their shared grief becoming the fertile soil in which something new takes root.

But the path forward isn’t without its challenges. As their connection grows, so do the whispers of small-town judgment, and the arrival of Nic’s past. Nola is forced to face her fears. In a town where old memories cling to the air like mist, can two people rebuild a future, or will the ghosts of their pasts hold them back?

The Stillness After is a tender story of love and healing, of finding strength in the aftermath of loss, and of learning to trust the hands that guide us forward—even when the future feels uncertain.