FanLit

I’m the child of someone with severe mental health issues, as well as the sibling of someone with mental health issues (something inherited via nature and nurture) It affects your own mental and emotional health as you try to cope with the realization that your “normal” wasn’t normal and you deal with the aftermath of what such an upbringing does in your adult relationships….it makes you look harder at your own children when you recognize the signs of what came before. Reading this story and these comments reminds me of the saying: “You never know what someone is going through. Be kind. Always.”

Avery’s struggle is real & was made worse by being traumatized by a sexual predator and diagnosed too late to put coping skills in place that might have helped….his victimization can’t be allowed to victimize others. I thank you for your insight and wish you peace, love and understanding on your journey.

This was an unexpected surprise, (I saw that you wrote these in one of the comments for your anthology submission) This was painfully, beautifully well done. The struggle for mental health and dysfunctional family relationships hits too close for me given the year that I’ve had but it makes me more appreciative of the journey this story takes….Being related to and/or loving someone is no excuse to deal with abusive behavior, even if they are going through crises of their own. I'm thrilled Maverick & Sloane’s marriage survived, as well as the family they have in Shawna, Sammy, Rhea and their girls. I wish Avery the best, his trauma was exacerbated by his mental condition and divergent thinking but I believe hate is a choice and if you chose it, you understand you may choose to live it alone. Thank you for the new word: “opprobrious”….on that note, in chapter four of “Light At The End Of The Tunnel”, thanks for using “elucidate” (not a new word, lol)

The path to one’s true self can take many twists and turns….sometimes down the road to self hatred and forgiveness. Though I wonder why Kelsey and Chris’ divorce meant Chris had to lose access to his children, I’m glad he was able to step up and back into their lives now. Wishing Dustin, Oliver, Kieran, Chris and Ross a life full of love and blessings.

“Straightening up, I didn’t dare touch my ear. Never show a sign of weakness. It was the number one lesson we learned as kids.” She surely did have them well trained, lol!!

Martini’s name story was the cutest!! “Change is what you make of it. There’s no sense in waiting until it’s too late before you do something. After all, a doctor doesn’t wait for the autopsy before he makes a diagnosis or prescribes medication.” It was an odd way of looking at things, but I realized he was right. I agree with Nick, lol. Brock’s business model seems sound and thoroughly researched, his vision of quality photography for the “average consumer” is appealing….why shouldn’t someone get champagne quality work on a beer budget, especially when that beer budget is hard earned and they want to mark the milestones of life? Mum selling a property full of character and promise ‘twas a great start to Brock’s new chapter. What a wonderful turn of events Nick’s leap of faith lead to: “Little did I know every night would include Brock Daniels for the rest of my life.” This was a beautiful gift to your friend, who sounded like she took her own leaps of faith….you were blessed to know her, as I’m sure she felt blessed to know you. Thank you for sharing. ❤️‍🩹💝

I’m surprised this escaped your notice, lol. Think of it as a nice add on to whomever is left that needs to be punished for other shit, lol. Or- Caleb may get some redemptive strength confronting and reckoning with whomever poisoned him. 🤷‍♀️

I resent Deirdre’s managing ways on Brian’s behalf, that’s a monster he’s going to need to check in the future….granted he accommodated her because he wanted a smoother path to Toby but fuck her manipulating ass, she’s a bitch, I’m glad Brian recorded her homophobic comments and her desire for Brian to have custody, she seems a bit flaky. While Toby will be better of in my opinion, Deirdre is his mum and he loves her….he misses spending time with her but it hasn’t been just her and him in a while. If Deirdre doesn’t want custody of Toby anymore, it is best for both that he not be there….sad that she’d choose a man over her son but I suspect she’ll harbor some regrets later on. Toby has great bonus grandparents in Grandpa Drew and Evie & they’ve taken to their new roles easily and gladly….Hopefully the more stable environment at his dad’s will ameliorate any hurt he may feel over his mother. Gordon has been good sport with all the changes and will also be a great influence on Toby as well.

Lyssa’s accident still upsets me, lol. Another great character, one of my favorite females you’ve written. 💝

That wolf is chomping at the bit for mate meal, lol.

Ick, lol.

At what cost?

“Damn, you remind me of my ex-girlfriend, Noel Gomez. We called her Gnomez because she collected those weird garden things.” Caleb shuddered at the memory. “She was straightforward like you but too bitchy. Always thought she was right. So, now, what do we do?” ROTFLMAO!!!! What a pseudo shout out!! That was approved in editing?!?! LMAO!!!! While the mercury poisoning amplified Caleb’s depression, it will still be a huge challenge to overcome….it looks like his mate will be key in recovery from both. Retraining your brain is a monumental task, the influx of natural dopamine and serotonin that Asa’s presence in Caleb’s life will bring will go a long way in advancing that progress. I like the dynamic between Caleb and Asa, it’s always interesting to see a boss being bossed, lol; the very few that an alpha personality willingly defer to have their absolute respect and trust & that is huge. Asa has been alone (and probably lonely) for a long time, this mate realization gives him a feeling of family that I suspect he’s deeply missed. Dwight deserves his fate for trying to exploit and then kill Asa. What will be the physical cost to Asa healing Caleb? Is it safer or more dangerous because he’ll be working on his mate?

Also waiting to see if revenge will be sought by that murderous thief, I expect him to be dealt with one way or the other before we leave Bearpaw, hopefully in a very painful way. I get the impression that the people who hate crimed Jubal either left him for dead or upon surviving, Jubal decided he would steer clear of whatever town or route that was.

Guess we’ll see….🤔 You’re so transparent, (with this, anyway) lol.

Gary’s stories are always the ultimate jubilee about love. ❤️

Weeeellll since you went there, lol…. Lucas means “bringer of light”, which fits, as he’s definitely brought light back into Jubal’s life; he also seems to be optimistic, a glass half full kind of guy….the light Lucas brings is gentle, like a candle in the dark or the sun as it rises at dawn, not harsh, blaring or blinding, at all. 🕯️🌅🌄 If memory serves, our esteemed author is deliberate in his name choices, so there is always hidden or related messages to the story (the “messages” part is my conjecture, lol)

I can’t remember which chapter but our esteemed author described Kyan as resembling Tony Hawk, the skater (younger, I believe)….look for a better looking Tony Hawk, which was my challenge, lol. 🤞

This was love and a Ha Ha so:

Hell yeah, and I reckon he ain’t lost a horse yet, so….

Haven’t had a horseman yet, so I’ll take your word on their “riding skills”….seems they’d know when to be rough as well as well as gentle (‘cause you do need both) so that puts them a step above most. Alan Bright?…ooooookay, Gary, lol. 🙄

What a fantastic comment. ❤️

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Great minds again, lol.

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Great minds think alike, lol.

I have been paralleling the lure of the horses to the lure of Jubal and this paragraph encapsulates the attempt to gentle both beautifully, with the only change being instead of “Horses are smarter” that “Lucas is patient”, lol. I think Lucas was checking out Boone.