Book One of the Ember & Wax Series
…the moment we stop hiding is the moment we truly begin.
Some stories don’t announce themselves.
They arrive quietly — and stay.
The Soft Open is not an announcement.
It’s an arrival.
This is a story about what happens before the moment everyone remembers —
before the confession,
before the decision,
before anything breaks open.
It lives in the quiet spaces:
the pause before a hand reaches out
the glance that lingers a second too long
the words almost spoken — and the ones carefully avoided
Nothing dramatic happens all at once.
Everything unfolds slowly, deliberately.
This is where intimacy begins — not with action, but with awareness.
The Soft Open is for readers who recognize the power of restraint — who understand that the most meaningful shifts often happen before anyone realizes a shift has occurred.
What to Expect
The Soft Open unfolds quietly.
This is not a fast story.
It doesn’t rush toward resolution or rely on spectacle.
Instead, it lingers.
You’ll find:
measured pacing
intimate moments rather than grand gestures
tension built through proximity and restraint
Scenes are short and deliberate.
Each moment adds a layer rather than delivering a climax.
This is a story meant to be read slowly. Best experienced in quiet moments, late hours, or in between the noise of the day.
If you’re looking for urgency, this book will resist you.
If you’re willing to slow down, it will meet you there.
Begin Here
The Soft Open is a short, intimate work — meant to be read in one or two quiet sittings.
It’s available digitally, meant to be experienced slowly, without distraction.
There’s no rush to the ending.
No pressure to move quickly.
Just a moment to step inside.
Format
Digital short / novella
Part of The Ember & Wax Series
Best Read
Late at night
In quiet spaces
With time to pause between pages
Some stories announce themselves.
This one waits.