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Quietus
A touching and powerful short story from the acclaimed author of Lost for Words.
'Knee-deep in the hungry sea, on the beach that I did not yet know I was to take custody of, I understood something for the first it is possible to have everything you want, and to be miserable.'
The beach is quiet at night. The moon shines, the tide falls back, and a woman stands, waiting, watching for those who come to the shore only to walk into the sea.
Nancy has lived on the coast for more years than she can remember. A famous actress in her younger days, she has since retreated from the world. Now her only aim is to persuade those who come to her beach to end their lives to go back to dry land, and try, once more, to live.
But each time gets harder, and Nancy begins to fear she is no longer strong enough to save the lives of the desperate and hopeless.
'Knee-deep in the hungry sea, on the beach that I did not yet know I was to take custody of, I understood something for the first it is possible to have everything you want, and to be miserable.'
The beach is quiet at night. The moon shines, the tide falls back, and a woman stands, waiting, watching for those who come to the shore only to walk into the sea.
Nancy has lived on the coast for more years than she can remember. A famous actress in her younger days, she has since retreated from the world. Now her only aim is to persuade those who come to her beach to end their lives to go back to dry land, and try, once more, to live.
But each time gets harder, and Nancy begins to fear she is no longer strong enough to save the lives of the desperate and hopeless.
Audible Audio
Published September 5, 2019
25 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Butland
16 books828 followersStephanie Butland is a writer, who is thriving after breast cancer. (She used to say she was a survivor, but that was a bit lacking in joie de vivre.)
Although she’d never have chosen it, her dance with cancer has changed her life in many positive ways. Now she is happier, healthier, and more careful with her precious life and the precious people and things in it.
Her writing career began with her dance with cancer, and now she is a novelist.
Aside from writing, she works as a speaker and trainer, and she works with charities to help raise awareness and money in the hope that cancer will soon be about as scary as a wart.
She lives in Northumberland.
Although she’d never have chosen it, her dance with cancer has changed her life in many positive ways. Now she is happier, healthier, and more careful with her precious life and the precious people and things in it.
Her writing career began with her dance with cancer, and now she is a novelist.
Aside from writing, she works as a speaker and trainer, and she works with charities to help raise awareness and money in the hope that cancer will soon be about as scary as a wart.
She lives in Northumberland.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 5, 2022
Amazing! Thought provoking, beautiful, poetic and unique. Stephanie Butland may very well be my new favourite author.
January 11, 2023
This is a great short story it’s well worth listening too
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews