Carter is a reliable employee of Leroy’s Swedish Auto shop who spends his days digging into the cars’ inner workings, making repairs, and sending them back onto the road. Side-by-side with Leroy and Leroy’s son, Bobby, the men put in their time together, laboring under the same hoods with the same tools; each and every day eating at the same local lunch spot. After work, Carter withdraws into a solitary, voyeuristic routine. Driven by his interest in a violionist from the nearby university, Carter moves through the city to the rhythms of Ann Hathaway’s schedule, knowing where he can listen to her music from the shadows. Through Ann, Carter realizes an artistic equilibrium that counters his grease-laden afternoons in the auto shop. That equilibrium, however, is disrupted when Carter comes across an astronomy book outside his apartment. A clue on the doodled pages of the well-worn star map leads him to see that his routine is not, in fact, solitary – that he, himself, is being watched from the shadows. Sent into a frenzy of curiosity, Carter discovers that the unknown voyeur is Darla, the counter-girl from the local diner who takes his order each day. Carter and Darla are birds of a feather. As their relationship blossoms, Carter slowly extricates himself from his self-imposed obscurity. But Darla hides a deeper wound that promises to destroy their relationship if left unchecked. To save them both, Carter must shed his shell and confront a world he has always avoided.

Forms: Narrative Fiction, Feature
Genres: Drama, Romance
Niches: Youth/Teen, Mature/Adult