˗ˏˋ THE WEIGHT OF DREAMS ˎˊ˗
❝ All across the west we traveled wayward for,
Find the weight of dreams in gold,
Heaven sent us here to meet the hallowed shore,
To claim the wealth that we had sold. ❞
Charis Duncan
[ emilija baranac ]
❝ Such a pretty house
And such a pretty garden.
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here). ❞
Cole Walter
[ noah lalonde ]
❝ Linger on
Your pale blue eyes ❞
Bianca Duncan
[ aubrey plazza ]
❝ Not all those who wander are lost ❞
Austin Duncan
[ liev schreiber ]
❝ Can't turn up, somebody punch me, yeah
Seven sugars and a madman goes
Yell, I wanted more ❞
Aster Duncan
[ belmont cameli ]
❝ Nobody said it was easy,
It's such a shame for us to part ❞
Marilyn Duncan
[ rachel keller ]
❝ Found yourself in a new direction,
Arrows falling from the sun,
Canyon calling, would they come to greet you?
Let you know you're not the only one ❞
IN THE QUIET TOWN OF SILVER FALLS, where the days unfolded with the predictable rhythm of small-town life, there was once a family whose story whispered through the streets and lingered in the shadows of their home.
Before AUSTIN DUNCAN and his two surviving daughters, MARILYN AND CHARIS DUNCAN, the family was once complete with the presence of ASTER DUNCAN, the eldest son. Aster was a young man of unwavering spirit, an enthusiast of all things mechanical, particularly the thunderous beasts of the road that roared through Silver Falls. His hands, stained with the grease of engines, mirrored the passion he had for working on trucks.
HOWEVER, tragedy unfolded one fateful day when the brakes of Aster's beloved truck betrayed him, propelling him into the depths of a ravine. The repercussions of that ill-fated moment resonated through the Duncan household, leaving scars that time could not erase. Aster's departure came swiftly, a year after the family mourned the loss of their vibrant mother, Bianca.
BIANCA DUNCAN had been a beacon of warmth and compassion, a veterinarian whose love for animals had imprinted itself on the hearts of her children. Charis, the youngest daughter, found solace in the memory of her mother's joy as they watched their horse MALORY, triumph in barrel racing competitions. Malory had been a birthday present, a testament to Bianca's unwavering support for her daughter's dreams.
Yet, fate dealt a cruel hand to Charis. A horrendous riding accident shattered her leg, abruptly ending her aspirations of becoming a champion. The same befell Malory, Charis' best friend, as a merciless truck collided with them, inflicting injuries that could not be mended. The once-lively horse was put to rest, leaving a void in Charis' heart.
Now, with the weight of the past hanging over them, the Duncan household became a mix of sorrow and dreams. Marilyn, the elder sister, danced on what was left of her dreams, yearning to escape Silver Falls and its haunting memories. Her sights were set on Sarah Lawrence College, an escape route from the clutches of their emotionally distant father, who struggled to fill the void left by his departed wife and son.
As Marilyn sought freedom, Charis, the youngest and now physically scarred daughter, fought with the remnants of her once-promising future. The summer brought a chance encounter with COLE WALTER during rehabilitation, and in the shared pain of their respective accidents, a fragile connection began to bloom. Charis discovered that, much like her, Cole was haunted by the past football accident, offering a glimmer of understanding. They knew each other because their mothers used to be friends and work together, but after Bianca's death, they drifted away.
AS THE DAYS UNFOLDED AT SILVER FALLS HIGH SCHOOL, Cole Walter found himself drawn to the enigmatic aura that surrounded Charis Duncan. He vividly remembered her vibrant spirit from their initial encounter and sensed a void in her words.
Encouraged by his compassionate mother, Cole embarked on a mission to reconnect Charis. He could remember how his mom and Charis' mom were good friends, he could always see a sadness in Charis's eyes that reminded him of the tough times they both went through. The place where they used to be together with their moms and horses still echoed with laughter, stories, and the friendship that grew while they worked to help animals.
Despite Charis' initial hesitation, the persistent encouragement from Cole began to chip away at the walls she had put around herself. The idea of finding joy in riding again and the comforting company of horses called out to her, urging her to step out from the melanholy that surrounded her.
As Charis navigated the balance between her gloominess and the spark of hope, the question lingered: would she succumb to the allure of her melancholic side, or would the hope of feeling better and being with horses help her find the happy person she used to be?
In the haven that awaited her, where memories of Malory and the thrill of barrel riding lingered, Charis stood at the crossroads. The decision to ride again held the potential to mend not only her shattered leg but also the fractured pieces of her spirit. The outcome, unsure and full of feelings, teetered between choosing the darker path or stepping into a bright world of new opportunities.
❝ Dreams are the ethereal feathers that carry the weight of our aspirations, and it is in their pursuit that we discover the true measure of our strength. ❞
˗ˏˋ SOUNDTRACK ˎˊ˗
the weight of dreams - greta van fleet
pale blue eyes - the velvet underground
not all those who wander are lost - lana del rey
sea, swallow me - cocteau twins, harold budd
blow my brains out - tikkle me
show me the way - peter frampton
when i leave berlin - wizz jones, lazy farmer
hey lover - the daughters of eve
no surprises - radiohead
myth - beach house
the scientist - coldplay
your love - the outfield
take me home, country roads - lana del rey
broken window serenade - whiskey myers
loser monologue - sign crushes motorist
TRIGGER WARNING!
alcohol. illegal substances. mention of depression. mention of cancer. mentions of eating disorders.
━━ 𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 !
dts to 90scoffeegossip uItrons
who always keep up with me and my inconsistency <3
english is not my first language so i was writing this prologue 3 hours with a fucking dictionary 😭
i was sick of my shitty writing so i made myself sit on my bed until i wrote something solid.
blonde boys ain't usually my type but there's something about this son of a bitch.
so! something different from what i usually do and im liking this plot more and more. i hope you can trust me on this journey and add this book to your library!
dont forget to vote and comment! its what keeps me going!
love, ra!