Mancunian

We are all unique, this is just one aspect of you that makes you unique. You are still the same person that you were yesterday, it's just that now you know a little more about what makes you you. If anyone has a problem with it then it is their problem, not yours. The genuine people that know and love you will always be there and love you. You are still Cassie and that is all that matters.

Another case of the pot calling the kettle black

This is true, there was five minutes after birth before it set in

That could be arranged 🤔

This is very different to the stories I usually read and wasn't sure if I would like it. The more I read, the more I enjoyed it. A beautiful story of love, a love that is borne from mutual respect. It is a fantasy story that tells of love between different species but has its parallels in real life. A well-written and unexpected story that drew me in, kudos to the author, your skill and talent show through.

Thank you @Comicality for an interesting and important article. I think that the writing and inserting (readers get your mind out of the gutter) of sex scenes in a story is a personal choice for an author and should depend on its relevance to the story as a whole (I can hear the giggling in the back row) to the story. I feel that most of the stories that I have written would have been spoilt by including a sex scene as it isn't relevant to the story. In others, it has only been hinted at or at most suggested with a few appropriate comments from characters or in the narrative, in those cases I felt that less was more if that makes sense. Up to this point, none of my stories have included a full-blown (there's that giggling again) sex scene, that is not to say that none ever will, it will depend on the story. It is possible that including sex may have increased my readership, but then, it may not, none of my readers have commented or complained about the lack of sex in my stories. I agree that the wording choice for a sex scene is important, it should be different for a romantic encounter than it is for a frenzied sex scene that is hurried or purely for self-gratification, or even for forced sex. The wording should also be appropriate for the timeline in which it is set and the age of the characters that are taking part. These factors can be the making or breaking of the scene and possibly the story. I very often skip a sex scene where I feel it's not appropriate to the story, but I will read the scene if I feel it is relevant. I guess that what it comes down to is both the author's and the reader's preferences. As for my stories, I'll only include sex scenes if I feel it's relevant.

It's good that Diego sought out legal advice, but I wonder how good the advice is. Let's face it, the receptionist's attitude said a lot to me, they didn't really want to see him. The lawyer said that they give 30 minutes of free advice then charged him, it wasn't free was it? I like that he has spoken to Steve, it seems that Steve is the only one on Diego's side. But then Bryan still hasn't come clean over the messages between him and Calvin, I can see that causing some very difficult and awkward problems. I've got my fingers crossed for Diego, but he needs more than that.

I know what you mean, I've had a lot going on with work and other commitments which have been distracting me. Each time I've sat down to write I've only managed a paragraph or two, so I've ended up reading instead. Now things are looking up I intend to apply more of my time to my writing, I want to finish my current story and I've got other ideas floating about in my head too.

@James Carnarvon I too live in the UK, unfortunately even here it still happens, I've witnessed it. Luckily there are some very good charitable organisations that exist to help when this happens, but they can't help all of them. I hope that similar organisations exist elsewhere to give help when it is needed.

I'm enjoying them, but this last one is more like an opening chapter to a longer story. Things have been eventful but in a good way, things are looking good so now I can get back to writing with less distractions. 😀

Like everyone else, I'm wondering what the conclusion is to this story. I hope the secret author will finish it when the secret author anthology has concluded. Joel is a young man who like other young men makes mistakes, but his mistake is an innocent one and does not warrant the treatment he has received. Unfortunately, too many parents think as his Mom does, as for his spineless Dad, don't let me get started. I hope his future is brighter than he feels it is, maybe Trace can help more than we currently see, I hope so.

You should be looking after yourself, try a warm heat pad it may help to ease it some. Everything is going well here, it couldn't be better

Hiya B, hope you're having a good day but don't miss out on your naps.

Aloha Young Albert, how are you and Steve today?

There are so many aspects to this story that it is hard to separate them, the most obvious one is that of mental health issues within the family and its effects. We never know or get to understand, the way mental health issues affect families or how they try to cope with 'normal' everyday life, it can sometimes be devastating as in this story. This is a very well written, emotive and insightful story. Whoever the author is, they have done a fantastic job. It begs the question, was this very well researched, or does the author have firsthand experience of the issues. A great story that is also very informative to those of us with little or no knowledge of mental health issues within the family. It also highlights the importance of correct and timely diagnosis as it does have a knock-on effect. Late and misdiagnosis can have consequences that mean missed opportunities and are some times irreversible. As @chris191070 has said, it is a hard, disturbing, true to life and emotional read.

A great ending to a great story. Dad not only told his boys that he loves and accepts them, but he also shows them that he loves them through his actions, that's a turn around that everyone wanted. Now I'm looking forward to part two.

The boys have some great friends, I wouldn't mind betting that most of us wish we'd had friends like that. I wish I did at that point in life. But Mom, well, what can I say, she is one true diamond of a Mom. She may not be their Mom by blood, but she is in all of the other important aspects of life. Even though I didn't have accepting friends I was lucky in that I had great parents, their love was unconditional. I think the boys had better get used to it or he will have a fierce fight with Mom.

An illuminating and revealing (in more than one way) chapter, the boys are learning of their love for each other. Unfortunately in the background to that is that comment, and all of the ones that followed, rearing its ugly head, I just hope it doesn't traumatise the boys. As some of the comments have made clear, the English language is a fickle one full of complexities. It's no wonder it is often described as one of the most difficult to learn, even I have trouble with it sometimes and I'm bloody British!

The family is gelling great, but that one incident could have lasting effects. You know, finding out that Dad is a homophobe. It's the sort of thing that they will remember and will rear its ugly head at some point in the future.

Another great chapter, I think I'm falling for these boys, I want to adopt them. I love the story, but I think I'm going to go through a lot of tissues.

I listened to the song and found it emotional to hear. Then I read this chapter, and now my glass of Pepsi Max tastes watery! And it's your fault I hope you are proud of that. An excellent chapter and a great start to the story. I think this could be another binge-reading fest.

Ghost stories are creepy and gruesome, right? Not this one, it's a story of love and helping the living to grieve as they should so the dead can rest in peace. I've already said too much, so read and enjoy but don't forget the tissues, you will need them. The author has done a brilliant job with this five-star recommended story.

A well-written beautiful story of young love, it is such a shame that the love came too late for both of them, especially Chris. Like many others, I got the impression of The Sixth Sense, but I thought the twist would be that both of them had passed away. But then, who knows maybe they both have but Tom has a purpose that keeps him tied to this life. It sent shivers up and down my arms and brought tears to my eyes. It is a sad but beautiful story and well worth revisiting to read again.

A heartwarming and heartwrenching tale of love. A tearjerker on many levels, that will hit home for many. This tells of how Mother Nature can be as cruel as she can be kind. A recommended five-star read.

Heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time. The author has skill and written this story in a way that impacts the reader by showing us how cruel nature can be by taking away precious memories and warping reality. Sid lives Arthur's 'reality' trying to make the final days easier for Arthur, there is no doubt that Sid wishes those memories had been real. Meredith shows herself to be nothing more than a status-hungry 'hanger-on' who would like nothing more than to take it apart piece by piece to claim her 'earned' status of the grieving widow. It is not hard to see where the real love is in this story even though the 'memories' are the work of an overactive mind that has been taken over by Alzheimers. My heart goes out to anyone who has endured this with a loved one.