What if the most unexpected person becomes the one who shows you who you truly are?
Claudia lives in London, going through the motions of a life that feels more like endurance than existence. Haunted by loss and weighed down by loneliness, sheâs reached a breaking point. One cold night, standing on the edge of a bridge, sheâs ready to let goâuntil a stranger appears.
He says nothing. He doesn't try to stop her. And yet, in his quiet presence, something shifts.
Their chance encounter sets Claudia on a path she never expected. What begins as a fragile, reluctant friendship with the mysterious man slowly transforms into something deeperâ something that, makes Claudia question everything she thought she knew about happiness, purpose, and the kind of life worth fighting for. Claudia is a deeply moving journey of self-discovery, grief, love and the extraordinary power of human connection.
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Claudia is a deeply moving journey of self-discovery, grief, love and the extraordinary power of human connection. Perfect for readers who love emotional, character-driven stories that linger long after the final page.
What if the most unexpected person becomes the one who shows you who you truly are?
Claudia lives in London, going through the motions of a life that feels more like endurance than existence. Haunted by loss and weighed down by loneliness, sheâs reached a breaking point. One cold night, standing on the edge of a bridge, sheâs ready to let goâuntil a stranger appears.
He says nothing. He doesn't try to stop her. And yet, in his quiet presence, something shifts.
Their chance encounter sets Claudia on a path she never expected. What begins as a fragile, reluctant friendship with the mysterious man slowly transforms into something deeperâ something that, makes Claudia question everything she thought she knew about happiness, purpose, and the kind of life worth fighting for. Claudia is a deeply moving journey of self-discovery, grief, love and the extraordinary power of human connection.
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Claudia is a deeply moving journey of self-discovery, grief, love and the extraordinary power of human connection. Perfect for readers who love emotional, character-driven stories that linger long after the final page.
The alarm clock rang sharply on the bedside table. The glowing red digits read 7:00 amâ18 December 2002. Emmanuel lay still beneath the heavy duvet, unmoving. For a long moment, he didnât stir, his breath slow and steady. Then, reluctantly, his left hand reached out and silenced the ringing.
He didnât open his eyes straight away. He waited, as if expecting somethingâa voice, a touch. But the room remained silent. His right hand reached instinctively across the bed, finding only cool sheets. The emptiness hit him like a slow wave. With a heavy breath, Emmanuel pushed the duvet from his face and blinked into the dim morning light. Realisationsettled over him with a quiet weight.
Sitting up with a weary sigh, he rubbed his face roughly, trying to chase away the sleep. His arms stretched wide, with his bones cracking in protest, before his hands dropped to the mattress. He sat still for a moment, staring absently towards the window, where heavy snow was falling in soft, endless silence.
He rose from the bed and padded across the room to the small bed tucked in the corner. Luca, his six-year-old son, was curled beneath his blanket, sound asleep. Emmanuel gently adjusted the covers, tucking them around Luca with quiet care. A flicker of tenderness softened his features as he watched the boy. Then, without a word, he turned and slipped out of the room.
The kitchen greeted him with cold stillness. He stopped at the doorway, frowning slightly. The kitchen door leading to the courtyard was ajar, letting in a thread of icy wind. Laura was standing outside, leaning against the brick wall. A cigarette smouldered between her fingers. She wore her worn coat, with lakes of snow clinging to her shoulders. Her posture was rigid, and distant.
Without a word, Emmanuel stepped outside and wrapped his arms gently around her from behind. He leaned in close, with his breath visible in the frosty air.
âWhat are you doing out here?â he murmured in his thick Italian accent. âItâs cold out here.â
Laura didnât answer. She took another long drag from her cigarette, exhaling slowly, with her eyes fixed on the white falling snow. He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.
âCome inside, please,â he whispered. âLetâs shut the door.â
She shifted slightly, just enough to glance back at him. Irritation flickered in her eyes.
âAnd do what?â she asked coolly.
He pulled back a little.
âWhatâs wrong with you? You didnât even give me a morning kiss when you got upâŚâ
Laura said nothing. The silence between them deepened as she continued to smoke. Emmanuel pressed on: âAre you still angry about last night? Iâll figure something out, Laura. Just give me some time.â
She turned more fully towards him now, with the cigarette hanging loosely between her fingers. Her voice was bitter. âFigure something out? Youâve been âfiguring it outâ for a long time, Emmanuel. Exactly how long do you need?â
Frustration bubbled in his chest. He rubbed his forehead, trying to stay calm.
âWhy are you always angry with me?â he asked. âI lost my job because I broke my leg. My legâs better now. Iâll get another job. It might just take some timeâthatâs all Iâm saying.â
Laura spun on him; her expression fierce.
âIt might take time? YeahâŚâ she said sharply, shaking her head. She took another drag from her cigarette.
His voice faltered now, and his eyes were glistening.
âBefore the accident, I was taking care of this family, Laura. I know things are tough now, but at least I was workingânot like you.â
Her body stiffened, as her eyes ignited with fury. Without a word, she brushed past him, storming inside and leaving the door open behind her. Emmanuel followed quickly, with anxiety gripping him.
Inside, Laura turned to face him. Her voice was low, and trembling with restrained rage.
âI never worked? Oh, really?â she whispered. âItâs a manâs responsibility to run the house, not mine? You need to understand thatâŚâ
She paused, inhaling deeply. Then, with her eyes locked onto his, she added, âListen to me, Emmanuel. Iâve got a Christmas gift for you. Iâm pregnant.â
He froze.
The room fell completely silent, save for the faint ticking of the kitchen clock. His heart thundered in his chest. In one swift motion, he lunged forward and yanked the cigarette from her fingers, tossing it outside into the snow. Then he slammed the door shut with a noise that echoed through the house.
Grabbing two chairs from the kitchen table, he placed one firmly behind Laura and guided her into it. Then he sank into the other chair, facing her, the anger in his face melting into something closer to desperation.
âLaura, youâre pregnant,â he said, voice shaking. âEvery action you take affects our baby. But youâre acting as if you donât care.â
âI donât,â she said flatly.
He flinched. The coldness in her voice chilled him more than the snow ever could.
âHow can you be so cold?â he asked. âYouâre talking about a life, Laura.â
She looked away, with her eyes somewhere far beyond the kitchen.
âThis is a life?â she said. âWeâve been living in my parentsâ house for how long now? Surviving off my benefits, barely getting by⌠and now another one is coming. What exactly do you want me to say?â
He leaned closer, with his hand brushing her shoulder, and a plea in his voice.
âI know youâre angry. And Iâm sorryâI shouldnât have said what I did. Look, I will find a job soon, I promise. Iâll make things better. If I have to go back to the shop, Iâll do it. I know itâll be tough finding something better later, but⌠please, Laura. Just believe me. Iâll fix this.â
Her gaze sharpened.
âIâve been believing you all this time, Emmanuel. I just⌠I canât anymore.â Her voice turned to steel. âLet me be very clear: I canât go through this again. Weâre not having this child. I want an abortion.â
Emmanuel shot up from his seat and dropped to his knees beside her, with his hand resting gently on her thigh.
âLaura, I understand youâre upset, but this is our baby,â he said. âWe need this child. Iâll take any jobâanything. Just please, reconsiderâŚâ
She stared down at him, with her voice steady and cold.
âThis isnât about emotion. Itâs my decision.â
His breathing quickened.
âLaura, please donât say that,â he whispered. âIâll do anythingâI swear. Iâll work any job. Just donâtâŚâ
Footsteps interrupted him.
Harry, Lauraâs father, stepped quietly into the kitchen, heading towards the coffee machine. Emmanuel rose awkwardly, retreating to his chair. A tense silence followed.
Harry sighed as he turned towards them.
âI overheard your conversation from my room,â he said. âI shouldnât interfere, I know⌠but Laura, please. Do not make this decision.â
Laura looked up slowly. Her expression was unreadable. The silence stretched out, before she finally answered, voice subdued yet resolute.
âFine, I wonât,â she said. âBut understand one thing clearlyâI wonât be able to love it.â
Harryâs face twisted.
ââItâ?â he echoed, disbelief coloring his tone.
Emmanuel, sensing the moment spiralling out of control, forced a fragile smile.
âAlright, letâs not complicate things more than they already are,â he said gently. âHarry, what do you think? Do you think itâll be a boy or a girl?â
Harry stirred sugar into his coffee, with his expression still tight. But after a beat, a faint smile cracked through.
âI think itâll be a baby girl,â he said. âAnd if it is, maybe we could call her Claudia.â
Silence returned, but now it carried a different weight. Outside, the snow continued to fall, whispering against the window as Emmanuel glanced towards Laura. She said nothing. Her gaze was distant.
Claudia: The Girl Who Went in Search of Happiness by S. Sebastian tells the poignant story of Claudia Rossi, a woman struggling to find herself and dealing with a significant loss, a fractured relationship, and feelings of betrayal. Her father, the last connection to a past full of love, passes, and sheâs left with a stifling loneliness. Sheâs forced to face some very complex relationships, including her estranged mother, a troubled relationship with her gambling-addicted boyfriend, a rocky connection with her landlady, Janet, and something unexplainable with the mysterious Antony, aka Mr. Nobody. Through a mix of difficult times and interesting adventures, she discovers her courage, friendships, and a surprising new love on her journey to heal.
This storyâs emotional depth, paired with its powerful psychological insight, is what stands out in Claudia by S. Sebastian. I loved how the author's writing felt both deeply caring and totally honest. Claudiaâs thoughts leap off the page; you can almost hear the mixture of pain, sarcasm, and intelligence in her words, causing you to feel empathy for her. The parts like Claudiaâs tense but revealing conversation with Janet, or her raw honesty during emotional family moments, feel real. Perhaps the most interesting parts centered on the compelling conversations with Antony. He helps Claudia see herself in a whole new way, reminding her that even in the darkest of times, there's light (and beauty). The bookâs pacing perfectly matches Claudiaâs emotional journey. Some moments are quiet and reflective, with a slight tension, but theyâre mixed with some excitement, like learning to shoot or fly a plane. I believe her adventures are her way of slowly taking back control of life again.
Claudia: The Girl Who Went in Search of Happiness is a must-read for any adult who appreciates a good, emotional story with a strong woman at the center. The book gives you so much to think about and discuss, especially when it comes to grief, identity, and family drama. Itâs a beautifully written story about finding light after a really dark time.