FanLit

As painful as this was, it was also beautiful. Though your story with Derek ended, it was.... and it was an honor to read of these opposites attracting. I hope your eight years together provide comfort the 14 years later you’ve been without him; Thank you for sharing your love journey.

Good question, maybe love is blind? I think the personality switch allowed us to see how truly rotten Alex’s core is in a way that’s not visible to Aron, Simon or anyone else in his life.

Merry Christmas Goldie!! 🎄 It’s been bittersweet reading Carter and Aron’s domestic bliss- Joyous in watching how natural they took to living together and frustrating in seeing them both hold back how much they feel for each other. Carter’s conversation with David was very entertaining, that will be an interesting face to face!! So Simon is happy to finally get his man but is willing to provide Carter “extra guidance” in learning the gay way? 🤨. I knew Alex wasn’t about fidelity but Simon surprised me. Another lovely chapter, I’m hoarding them like nuts in the winter.

Yes, they need to work together, I only hope Kiyo will be receptive. Good cliffie and Merry Christmas 🎄

The end of the year tends to bring about this emotional housecleaning....thoughts of goodbyes said this year prompting reminders of the timeless goodbyes in our lives, the ones our hearts never get over having said. I’m sorry you’re missing your Mom; Sometimes memories can’t adequately substitute being able to look upon a beloved face, to touch the living frame. I’m glad your walked help alleviate your melancholy. I’m sad, too, Gary. Friendships that I thought would sustain me a lifetime have proven to be for a season instead and I feel rudderless, without roots. Believing that everything happens for a reason, I look with hope to the future but it doesn’t lessen the loss (and blame) I feel for ports of my future now beings relics of my past. Sorry for venting....I guess this poem nicked a “misery loves company vein”, I think I need to take a walk, too. 🍻

Life is too short and love needs to be expressed when it can; I’m glad Noah and Jordan expressed their feelings for each before those weeks apart, I think knowing they both feel the same way about each other will help them deal with the challenges in their respective families. I love their open communication with each other (except for Jordan using Jenn’s picture with his friend as his “girlfriend”). It was that communication that kept Sebastian from undermining them. (What is up with him?!?!) I’m not sure who Sebastian is more fixated on, Noah or Jordan and can’t understand why he won’t leave them alone, he makes it clear he gets other guys and he wouldn’t have treated Noah well if they were together. There is some inferiority/jealousy thing going on with Sebastian, period, but it seems for some reason to find an outlet on Noah and Jordan, individually and collectively. I’m excited to see what happens with the boys when they get back to school and live together. Thanks for leaving things off on this happy, hopeful note.

Her antics and her whinneys....being there from her birth and these 25 years later. Her constant whickering to her person that she trusts for life.... Those things mean that when that sad day comes that she is no longer physically here, that she will always be with you. If a life well loved is a life well lived, I have a very certain suspicion that as evidenced by your equine soulmate, (among other observations) you live very well. 🍻 😘

I consider myself a city girl, yet my ideal home is a cabin somewhere country like where I can see the stars at night. I consider myself a city girl who’s not really an animal person, yet I’ve always respected their place in life and our world, even more so after I became good friends with a deeply devoted dog lover, she provided me with an understanding of how some people love and trust animals more than people. Your writing impresses me on any topic but there is something in your tone about nature and your animals....it evokes this sedate intimacy....like whispers in nature’s chapel; Or sharing a hot drink in front of a fire on a chilly night. Quiet appreciation for what should be appreciated more. Thank you, my platonic, renaissance friend. 🍻

😍 I hearted this chapter sooooooooooo much❣️❣️ There is so much love between C&A; Who is going to say they love who first? The one thing I know is that Aron has no intention of letting Carter go now, they may be calling themselves “fuck buddies” but as far as Aron is concerned, Carter is his man. Have we heard the last of Alex? Or Simon, for that matter? I know the end is near and it has me feeling a little sad, this unusual tale is worth the telling. Thank you, Goldie.

I LOOOOOVVVVEEEE Carter and Aron together❣️❣️ They are so frickin’ CUTE 😍😍 This was a fun chapter; I thought it was Alex who caught them kissing in front of the club, Simon’s righteous indignation on Alex’s behalf was sweet, even tho that walking dildo doesn’t deserve it. So Aron suspected his husband’s infidelity, that has to make Carter feel better. I wonder who will file for divorce first, since Alex left Aron but Aron seems glad that he left. There will definitely be an interesting, hot time with Carter giving Aron the “D”, bring it on, Goldie!! 😂 This non drama chapter was much appreciated but that just leaves me nervously anticipating what else will happen next week. 😳

I saw mention of Frank and his “hot professor” fiancé and got excited when I realized they were from “Reed’s Tale”. I see one chapter for that story on this site, was that story ever finished?

What’s funny is that it wasn’t my intention to write a poetic verse to you, they were the first words that came to me from reading your piece so I guess the poet inspires poetry, 😊. What you say about you and Michael is so true, love is a living thing and living things must be fed, we don’t always feed it the right things tho, so instead of watching love grow, we watch love go.... You are very, very, very welcome, tim.

“You always hurt the ones you love”. That was the refrain echoing through my head reading this story up until the conversation by the tree. I love how he found refuge in that tree, even if in his communion with it this time he was offering himself up as a sacrifice on the altar of the unholy. I had no sympathy for Mark and as cold as it may seem, I was not upset he resorted to what he did to end his abuse, I garnered some understanding after his conversation with Chester in the afterlife but still don’t excuse his actions. Yes, Mark was a victim of horrific abuse, and he tried to save Chester in his own way by telling him to leave but he made a choice to continue the cycle of abuse, in varying degrees of escalation. That his final act was an act of love does not undo the damage he inflicted on Chester. “If… if you knew that, why didn’t you get help? Sick people get help. I really wish—” “It takes something I didn’t have. I’m sorry.” “I don’t understand.” “I didn’t either. I wanted to stop being so angry… I really did.” I know Chester also bears some responsibility, as he chose to stay; I was even able to justify his choice in the beginning of his relationship with Mark because love can excuse the inexcusable....that he resigned himself to dying at Mark’s hands is what I could not accept. I don’t know if he realized just how much he was like Mark’s mother. The first mention of Jordy felt refreshing in this piece....he spoke to hope and the reality that what we think is secret often isn’t. In my epilogue to this story, Jordy is rewarded with Chester’s love after staying by his side as a devoted friend through Chester’s recovery of himself. “Hurt people hurt people” The war of abuse has more casualties than any military conflict we’ve ever known and it’s PTSD always affects more than just the abuser and the abusee. No one should be such a battle scarred veteran at 23. 😰 Your considerable skill made this a very thought provoking piece, Gary; One where the only defined villain was Mark’s father and the defined hero was Jordy; Even with my lack of sympathy to Mark, I still saw his shades of grey, along with Chester and Mark’s mother. I love that even tho your narrative traverses the life cycle of an abusive relationship, it ended with hope, that we not only saw the light at the end of the tunnel, we saw Chester walk out of it. 🌤🌈 Cheers to another well done piece, my platonic friend. 🍻

tim, you are beautiful. tim, you are strong. tim, you are talented. tim, you belong. I couldn’t help feeling parallels between Tommy and Tarek and you and Michael. I understand the insidious, clinging hold deep depression can have on one’s life. It puts out the light, it decays growth that tries to flourish in love and positivity. It defies the words and good intentions of others, leaving you to feel unwanted, unworthy. I appreciate your battle, tim; I know it is daily and I applaud everyday you win. 👏 You belong in this time. Your poetry is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read and as timeless as it is, you were meant to write it now. You belong in Michael’s love. Michael belongs in your love; What you two share is special and rare and what everyone spends their life looking for. Thank you for telling the uncomfortable stories, I hope you know there is beauty even in those weeds of your literary garden. You provide therapy for your readers, as I hope it provides therapy for you. Thank you, tim. Thank you so much. 😘

I can't not," he spat, bitter and wounded. "I can't not forgive you. Jesus God, I wish I had it in me to not forgive you." To be loved unconditionally like this is a gift few will ever really know and I hope these words reverberate in Andy for the rest of his life. You walked us through the foundation of their friendship, the bond that sustained and bettered them both created in childhood with adult strength. You walked us through their breakup via Andy’s flawed foundering with brutal, unflinching clarity and it is the same way you bring us to their reconnection, a balls to the wall reckoning of all wrongdoings, and absolute forgiveness. Andy is doubly blessed with Matt and Angie; Andy wouldn’t be the man Angie loves without the Matt shaped filter and border in his life. This story is painful and hopeful, imperfectly perfect. Thank you for creating this journey.

There is so much sadness in this story: Justin’s taking Eric for granted (in my opinion), his careless promiscuous behavior that cost him and Eric their health, Justin’s decline and his last days. Then there is Davie and Sean, the rose among the thorns, the ray of light shining through the clouds. Their development (or potential development) keeps me from choosing “sad” for the story, that and Eric’s devotion to Justin. I don’t judge Justin his free loving ways, when you’re young and full of hormones and freedom, it’s what you do, what a lot more people did before AIDS made it’s life stealing presence known. And while I feel Justin took Eric for granted, Eric let him, it was his choice. I hoped Eric’s results would have been negative but given the time of the story, I wasn’t surprised it was not. It is a great mercy stories like these are no longer the norm people with AIDS have to face and you are right and good in sharing them, they should be remembered. Thank you.

How difficult can it be?” HA!! Famous last words.... Amanda’s a good choice, and she has Trout’s back via the rules, whether Trout realizes it or not. (Them rules are crazy, tho) Bring on Stinky and Co., oh and her male co workers. Trout’ll be like a hooker at Fleet Week but unable to touch; Their gaydar will be pinging with him and trying to expose him, too but if he can pass that, he should be home free, unless a certain blond “Madam Bovary” reader works at Amanda’s firm....😯

“A plump owl of a woman stands in the doorway to the function room, her huge eyes magnified by oval framed glasses scanning the bar area. When she waddles toward me, her autumnal tweeds scrunch, and feathered tufts of red and orange streaks bob up and down from the shady bird's nest of her hair. She hugs a clipboard under one wing and stops before me, a scarlet manicured claw held out in greeting.” Your descriptive capacities are on another level, 😄 That speed dating was horrid. Makes me wish “Love Connection” was as wild as it gets; At least he bumped into a possibility in Amanda, tho it was interesting her bashing of the speed dating that she was a participant in; Has she never heard the phrase “the lady doth protest too much, methinks”? Lead on, Macduff, the journey is interesting....

“And if you get lucky, bud, bring me back a little something under your fingernail.” Excuse my ignorance but what does “little something under your fingernail” mean?

Yay, It’s back!! Hi!! 👋

Sizzling chemistry. Will this story continue?

Okay, 👍 I know I’ve been calling you “Rump” for Rumpelstiltskin but I think since you turn story straw to gold, I should call you “Goldie” instead. I mean “Rump” could apply too but ”Goldie” sounds cuter than “Rump”. 😘

Leave it to Carter to divert Aron’s attention with sex; 😄 His friend Aron, who until recently, believed he was a homophobe. That was both hot and hilarious and unexpected, even tho it was very wanted (by the participants and the readers 😉). Carter and Aron belong together; Carter felt no awkwardness during their intimacy and Aron had a dream come true; Consider them both hooked. You could tell he wanted Carter to say they were more than fuck buddies but I get Carter holding back, Aron is still married on paper and he’s not 100% sure about Aron’s feelings; Aron may not have felt guilty but Carter doesn’t want to be a rebound. Talk about stubborn with Aron!! He ruined his life to spite good advice. Mama always knows, Aron. I don’t trust Alex. At. All. My eyebrow was raised during his conversation with Carter along with being a little fearful. Alex chose to remember the accident instead of the body swap, why does that remembrance make him so chummy to Carter? You can’t sleep around a snake, you never know when it’s going to strike. Where is ponytail girl?!?! Alex should not be the only one to know what happened with the accident. This was good, Rump. I’m glad C&A are lovers now.

Jenn loves Noah and Noah hurt her. I hope she can forgive him and that their friendship survives, if it doesn’t, at least she did try. I’m glad Noah and Jordan had sex. The sex scene was fine, detail wise. (I personally like raunchy and/or romantic sexual depictions, so this was okay with me). Their physical connection wasn’t gratuitous, it was right between them. I hope they keep faith with each other, that is what will get them through any challenges with anyone or anything else.