The Stillness

Under the oppressive heat and dust of a late spring day, a storage auction becomes the unlikely stage for a family's simmering tensions and the unsettling discovery of a taxidermied dog. As past and present collide, a wife's attempt at a new beginning unearths more than just forgotten belongings.

The late spring heat was oppressive, the air thick with dust. You sat in the passenger seat of the van, sweat pooling at your back, the broken air conditioner offering only warm breaths. Beside you, Liz drove, her focus fixed on the road, the tension in her posture palpable. In the back, Liam, silent and scowling under his oversized baseball cap, stared out the window, a melting grape popsicle clutched in his hand.

An hour into the drive, after a brief, sharp exchange about the dripping popsicle, you pulled into the dusty parking lot of "Al's U Store It." This was the first stop of the day, a storage auction – part of the routine of your new life, helping Liz source items for her antique store. Liam wasn't supposed to be here, his father working overtime, throwing a wrench into the already delicate balance of your weekends.

As you piled out of the van, Liz circled to help Liam out of his booster seat. Seeing his sticky, stained face, she turned to you, a plaintive look in her eyes. "He's filthy. Can you take him to the front office and find a bathroom? I want to get set up here."

You held out your hand for Liam, but he evaded you, leaning into Liz's side and casting you a suspicious look. With a sigh, you grasped his hand firmly, and he followed, meekly, towards the small office building.

The Stillness

Secrets Family Drama Storage Auction Stepparent Marriage