Books

Henry, a defiant teenager, is expelled from Ruminia School-a place where conformity is enforced and students are required to emulate ancient philosophers. In a classroom dominated by a grand chandelier, every crystal shines identically, symbolizing the institutional demand for uniformity. Unlike these crystals, Henry longs to be unique.

His expulsion becomes the catalyst for a journey of painful self-discovery. Venturing beyond the rigid confines of his school, Henry uncovers unsettling truths about his past. He confronts the mystery of his "deadened father," a figure long silenced by his mother, Samantha, only to discover that his father is, in fact, alive. As the layers of secrets unfold, Henry learns that his father was once married to Mrs. Betty, a neighbor who, along with Samantha, has lived side by side for years. Intriguingly, both women remain unaware of who they truly love, each trapped in the pain of a shared abandonment by the same man.

In a final act of defiance, Henry returns to Ruminia School and shatters one of the chandelier's crystals. But instead of keeping it, he gives it to his father, realizing that the true unique one was never himself-it was the man who shattered all their lives in the most devastating way.