Chiaroscuro (kyar-uh-scoor-oh): The art of blending light and shadow.

DEVOTION - DEPRESSION - DETERMINATION

Stom Carpenter is a quiet presence—a giant in the high school halls who slips between worlds, seen but never truly understood. He longs for the freedom and clarity of adulthood, yet the more he seeks it, the more trapped he becomes in his own mind.

THE BLENDING OF LIGHT AND SHADOW WAS FAR EASIER ON PAPER THAN IN LIFE.

Just last month he was a football player, but Stom traded in his helmet for a sketchbook, hoping to escape the chaos of the world around him. Instead of finding solace in his art, he’s left struggling with the dark corners of his soul—ghosts of the past that cling to him like the frayed ropes of forgotten promises. Anxiety, guilt, and a relentless depression pull him further into the shadows.

His battles are no longer visible like the ones on the football field. Now they come from within: the expectations of loved ones, the pressure of religious leaders, and the crushing weight of self-doubt. Stom wrestles with his inexpressible neurodivergent traits, always feeling out of step with the world around him. The overwhelming need to make sense of his life drives him to the edge, where the thought of ending it all feels like the only escape.

Chiaroscuro explores the internal war between light and darkness—a teenage boy’s silent struggle with depression, anxiety, and the suffocating weight of being misunderstood. Stom’s journey through faith, art, and mental health pulls him toward the brink of self-destruction. But even in the darkest moments, when the light seems most distant, there remains a glimmer of hope that he might yet find his way through.
This powerful, heart-wrenching story dives deep into the mind of a young man who wants to understand his place in the world—and who might just help others find the strength to keep going, even when all seems lost.

---

37,900 words

Also includes a Guide for Parents and Readers

Recommended for readers ages 14 and up