Ocean Vuong: Books Novels & Stories

The cover of the third book was a silent declaration of victory. Where the previous ones had carried dark and uncertain tones, this one displayed a watercolor in golds and deep blues—colors that evoked sunrises over the ocean, promises kept, and horizons that had finally revealed themselves within reach. The title, engraved in handwritten letters like an intimate confession, was simple and revolutionary: “To Live.”

Then a friend, stopping by to visit, noticed the ring and blurted out, "Wait, isn't that the one we tossed into the sea for that dumb bet?" Chad froze, memories flooding back. Years ago, they'd tied the ring to a fishing line and cast it into the ocean as part of a ridiculous wager. The deal? Whoever brought a date brave enough to retrieve it would win a prime piece of Averville real estate. Everyone thought it was just a joke. No one actually jumped—except Amelia. She'd asked the guy running the bet if it was legit, double-checked the terms, and even got the signed agreement before diving straight into the choppy waves.

Gerey stood up - Jeyrin still concealed in the dark of the library desk, and went to a rack of books. ‘GEOGRAPHY AND FAIRYTALE SECTION’ spelled at the top of the shelf and as Gerey scanned from book to book, he remembered a few he'd read at school, ‘Knowing Wabrook's Water Brooks and Bodies’ by Whitaker Flarogue, ‘Sunset at Ingfalls’ by Simponie Gugh, ‘The best habitat for all - Ingfalls - Book One’ by Cuulambs Nicktra, but they were not what he searched for.

Zane and I tucked the girls in not longer after that, and I read from what was now officially the girls’ second-favorite book. With a smile, I opened the book, admiring the illustrations Grace and Chloe had already seen and cooed over. “Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower and as clear as crystal, it is very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could sound it, and many church steeples, piled one upon another, would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above. There dwell the Sea King and his subjects.

I open the drawer one by one and ransacked everything, but to keep it safe- I also return it to its proper places. "I wonder where did Vicenzo hid his important documents" I whisper to myself. I roamed my eyes around and I decided to start checking those shelves again. It was full of books that I don't know. I am not fond of reading, I just read when I need to or when I wanted to sleep. I puffed out a breath and brush off those strands of my hair on my face. My gaze is wandering around those books until it stops on the book in the middle with the title 'Island In The Aegean Sea'.

Harold peeled the paper Trisha had given him open. For above five seconds after, he studied the time table like it was the map to treasure Island. “‘Werewolf’, that's the name of the subject.” He fell silent for a while and studied the paper in his hands for even longer than he had the first time. “It's a new subject which we've never been taught. After that, we'll have geography.” They all fell silent as they remembered the old geography teacher, professor Ericson. If one thing was certain, it was that as long as the three of them existed, none was going to forget him.

I close the door quietly. I spend an hour in the smaller library looking at the books. He has everything. Fiction. Nonfiction. Art books. History. A whole shelf of poetry that looks like it has never been touched. I pull out a volume of Mary Oliver and flip through it. Someone has dog-eared a page. I read the poem. "Wild Geese." I read it twice.

I was an ugly outcast who did not fit in, death was the only way out for there was no use for me in this world. With more tears of anguish trailing down my face, I closed my eyes. Knowing that soon I would plunge and drown into this humongous ocean river, ending my life. Releasing one last terrified breath, I jumped and fell. Suddenly a gentle loving voice started speaking from nowhere. It was everywhere and ringing in my ears. Before I formed you in the womb Olivia Phillips, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I created your inmost being and knit you together in your mother`s womb.

If that's the norm, I won't care if I'm included or not. I just went to the library to read a book about Eleftheria. Maybe there is information there about the volcano. I will just pour out my anger and annoyance there. I am being immature and I don't understand myself either. The Palace library is spacious. Even if I spend a year reading it I won't finish all the books. Fortunately, it's easy to find what you need to read here because there are names. I went to the row where there were books about different parts of Valeria. I saw there a book about Samona, Caracass, Avalone, and Valencia. There was also a book about monsters in the Valeria forest and Eleftheria caught my eye.

Author's note: If you like BL stories, Please read my new book, "claimed by his bully brother in law!" I promise it's hot! It's on goodnovel but you have to search the name And please remember to leave your comments if you like it and want me to continue. Please support your author. 🥰 Ivonne's POV Everything in me suddenly felt off balance, like my body and my mind weren’t fully synced anymore after what Ulfris had just tell at me.