Pearl

The novel follows Marianne, who is tormented by the loss of a loved one and the unmarked gravestone in an abandoned chapel near the tidal river of her childhood home. She becomes captivated by an ancient medieval poem called Pearl, trusting in its promise of consolation.

Marianne sets out on a lifelong task to create a visual illustration of the poem, a project she repeatedly returns to but is never able to complete. As her family life and home begin to deteriorate, her self-destructive path seems inevitable.

The story explores whether art can truly heal profound grief, and if her own future as a mother will allow her to finally find the peace that the past has denied her. (117 words)