The Noises

He survived the accident. Three notes from a phone can still take him back.

Robert can sleep through a passing freight train and navigate the everyday sounds of a crowded shelter. But certain electronic alerts bring back the terror of being trapped in his wrecked car, unable to reach the phone sounding just beyond his grasp.

After eleven months in the shelter, he is working toward employment, stable housing, and a life beyond survival. Counseling helps him manage his post-traumatic stress. Repeated disruptions keep wearing away the rest he needs to move forward.

The shelter already requires silent phones and earbuds. Getting people to follow that rule is another struggle.

Some residents dismiss his distress. Others deliberately turn the sound back up. Robert begins dreading the next alert—and worrying that asking for help will make him a target.

With support from his counselor, a trusted friend, and staff willing to listen, Robert starts documenting what happens. Speaking up could help change the conditions around him, but it means making himself heard when he already feels exposed.

The Noises by Mia Bills is compassionate contemporary fiction about trauma, homelessness, shared responsibility, and the need for safety in communal spaces. It explores the courage involved in seeking help while rebuilding independence.

How do you begin to recover when the place you sleep keeps putting you on alert?

Choose your preferred ebook format: PDF or EPUB.

Content note: Includes a serious vehicle accident, injury, post-traumatic stress, panic symptoms, homelessness, bullying, and sleep disruption.

Digital ebook. No physical book will be shipped.

Cover: 100% AI

Content: 70-80% writer

Category: Contemporary Fiction/Psychological Drama, Secular Fiction

File Format: PDF, EPUB

Word Count: 8,500

Rating: PG-13