debbieoceans



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  1. Rec 41

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    Five years after losing her wife, Carol Sturka has built a quiet life by the coast: hands busy, heart carefully guarded, love poured into animals and things she can fix.
    Zosia Kosłowska arrives in town running from expectations, from a future already decided for her, and from a desire she has never allowed herself to name.

    This is a slow story about grief, restraint, late blooming, and the kind of wanting that learns to speak through hands, silence, and time.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    36,554
    Chapters:
    19/?
    Comments:
    198
    Kudos:
    371
    Bookmarks:
    41
    Hits:
    7,517

    18 Jan 2026

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  2. Rec *

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    Zosia raises an eyebrow. “We never lied to you. I never lied to you.”

    “And I didn't either,” Carol says. “But you chose to leave out the truth so you could turn me into something you know I don’t want to be.”

    “So what did you do to me then?”

    There’s a moment where they just stare at each other, pain mirrored on both of their faces.

     

    or: carol and manousos manage to un-hive zosia. it goes as well as expected.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    13,165
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    65
    Kudos:
    975
    Bookmarks:
    122
    Hits:
    12,681

    04 Jan 2026

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  3. Rec *

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    “I didn’t keep most of the memories. Other people’s memories. I get flashes of big things, births, deaths. Except about you.”

    Carol feels the confusion slip onto her face. Nervousness creeps up her spine again. “Me?”

    “I know everything that anybody has ever thought about you, Carol. Every memory. Every feeling. Helen. Your ex-girlfriends. Your dentist. It’s like I have a Carol encyclopedia in my head.”

    Carol had thought that she was done experiencing fresh horrors. What a nightmare it is to realize that she is not. “Oh, god.” She says.

    “Oh, god,” Zosia agrees.

    After they manage to break Zosia free of the hive, Zosia and Carol try to navigate the field of landmines that is their relationship.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    22,466
    Chapters:
    2/2
    Comments:
    295
    Kudos:
    2,867
    Bookmarks:
    510
    Hits:
    33,322

    27 Dec 2025

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  4. Rec *

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    Carol Sturka, a novelist and English professor, struggles with grief and isolation after the death of her wife. Upon her return to work, Carol discovers she is now forced to share her classroom with Zosia Rybak, an ESL instructor. Initially resentful, Carol learns that Zosia admires her writing and specifically requested to work with her. Time heals, and even though Carol's wounds are deep, she learns that there's something still left for her to pursue.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    109,049
    Chapters:
    27/37
    Comments:
    923
    Kudos:
    2,514
    Bookmarks:
    273
    Hits:
    56,378

    23 Dec 2025

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  5. Rec 35

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    Margo seeks Sophie out after their game of spin the bottle.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    3,494
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    18
    Kudos:
    336
    Bookmarks:
    35
    Hits:
    5,258

    13 Oct 2025

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