Separate Journeys

Book excerpt: Against the frigid and desolate splendour of a Norwegian coastal winter, Emmett unwillingly boards a ferry to journey north, a reluctant passenger on a voyage not of his choosing. Grappling with his past, apprehension clings to him as the unrelenting storms buffet the coastline. Cocooned in the stoic ferry, unexpected solace arrives in the warmth and understanding of his tablemates. With each shared meal, each weathered storm, the bonds of his newfound friends deepen, their laughter, experiences, and insight a lifeline. Under the breathtaking spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, raw emotions collide and Emmett must confront the truth. Will he find answers in the unforgiving beauty of the North? Will the resilience of the human spirit prevail, or will the winter claim him?