Mitchell has always lived in a world of too much input. The grit of dust in his socks, the relentless thwack of his pack against his spine, the smell of sun-baked heather... each sensation is a data point demanding attention. His mind craves order, predictability, and silence.
He finds it in a mountain tarn, a perfect, silent oval of teal water cradled in stone. The cold water wraps around him like a sensory vacuum, finally allowing his brain to stop processing the noise of the world.
Then he feels a touch that isn't his own.
Clara is the water itself, a spirit of the tarn, ancient and patient. She has existed for millennia as a consciousness formed by mineral content, depth, and memory. She has watched humans come and go, their minds too filtered, too busy explaining away the world to truly experience it.
But Mitchell is different. When she touches him, he doesn't explain it away. He feels it. He acknowledges it. He is honest with the water.
In return, Clara shows herself to him, a stunning, unapologetic presence who can calibrate her form to soothe his specific nervous system. She is the shape of his peace.
The Tarn is a deeply felt supernatural romance about being truly seen... not in spite of your differences, but because of them. It explores what happens when a mind wired for order meets a being of pure fluidity, and the two discover that logic and hunger can be the same thing.
Perfect for readers who love neurodivergent protagonists, elemental spirits, and love stories that feel as grounded as they are mythic.
Contains explicit content; suitable for adult readers only.
Wordcount: 7,020
