Wayne Gray

22 January 2019, Tuesday 10:26 a.m. Troy hauled the last of their luggage out of the van and into the house. Great trip, but it's so good to be back home. Grant put his own load of things down at the base of the stairs and looked thoughtfully at Troy as the lanky man turned to him. "What is it?" Troy shifted the strap of the bag over his shoulder. Grant gave a tiny nod. "What do you think about us just making my room our bedroom? We can have the other as the guest room, or as an

Thanks, Jaybee! I’m glad it’s worth reading again. 🙂

A nap has done wonders. Benadryl did it’s job too. No longer itchy and breaking out in new rashes. Thanks for the well-wishes, all.

LOL .. wow, and we just had an earthquake too! hahaha

I'm pretty sure I'm reacting to my newest supplement. I'll be marking that one off the list.

Thanks everybody. Feeling loopy, but still got work to do.

I do not need this right now. I am so freaking busy. But ... - Scene - I am seated around a table with one of our medical directors (Kelvin), my boss (Stacy) and our risk manager (Koreen). "Wayne, do you have an update on turn around times for LabCorp COVID-19 samples?" *I am idly scratching an itch on my neck* "LabCorp is saying their turn around is three days, but it's averaging more like six. Regardless of what we're being told, it's six." Koreen pipes up. "Should we include this in the messaging going out to providers? What do you think --" "Wait." Kelvin stands up and leans over toward me. He's staring at my neck. "What?" I frown and look askance at the medical director. Kelvin grabs my hand and moves it. There are little gasps from both Stacy and Koreen. "Wayne, are you breathing okay?" "What!? Yes! Why?" "Raise your pantleg. Roll up your sleeves. Now. Do it now." He's tiny, but very insistent. I do. There's a massive rash all over my limbs, neck, all the exposed skin. "You're having an allergic reaction." Kelvin looks at my boss. "Stacy, do you have Benadryl?" I get a big dose of Benadryl, then I'm promptly run out of the building before the medication hits me. I think I'm gonna sleep well tonight. Or, maybe in a few minutes.

What ... what is going on in this crazy house?

Those who fear the loss of their humanity are typically those with the least to fear. They're the most human, feel more, and reach out when others draw in. We will get through this.

@rickproehlThere's a pattern to epidemics. This one is following it. It's not special in that respect at all, COVID-19 is following a curve we've seen repeatedly. Lots of people will get this. There will be disruption to our lives for a while. But this will not, in any way become our new normal. The measures taken by governments and local jurisdictions are good ones. They spread out the time it will take for the virus to infect the biggest groups of us, and by the time most people get the bug, the first ones who've had it will be better. Those folks will be able to take care of the next wave of infections, and more importantly ... handle the needs of infrastructure that have to continue. Society and life will go on. Right now, this isn't normal at all. This is a population adjusting to measures they've never had to endure. There is bound to be some pain there. We'll survive. Hopefully, we'll be a little wiser, and a bit more inclined to listen to experts instead of talking heads on television - but, we'll survive.

Thanks, Parker. Grant is free to live those emotional moments we feel when we love someone. And now he's doing it free of guilt. He's well aware how lucky he is, and both Troy and the friends remind him almost every time he interacts with them. It's fun to watch two people in love. 🙂

I'm glad it's worth going back through for another spin! Thanks for reading and for the comment. We'll have to see about adding to the story of our folks here. I already have a lot to do!

You should do whatever it is your heart says you should do, droughtquake. Like mislead people into thinking lactose intolerance = a reason to avoid exercise.

I will drop one clue as to what is coming. The next chapter is titled "Thicker than Water."

I must have a bad rep or something. I blame @droughtquake! Thanks for commenting, empress.

Thanks for reading and for the comment! They're really just beginning to live a somewhat normal life now. Finally. It has taken months, but ... here they are. Let's see where they end up.

Thanks, chris! They're growing closer all the time, and in large part that's possible because Grant finally gave the Journal back to Troy. And every couple should include massage in their lives with one another. It's a nice way to connect. 🙂 Grant can count the friends as his too now. That has to be nice - to know he can count on them not just because of his connection to Troy, but because they value him for his own sake.

Thanks for the comments, Danners. It's amazing what a lack of guilt can do for someone who has been dealing with it for a while. Now Grant feels free, and that's translating through every interaction he has now. It is bound to be noticed by those closest to Troy and Grant both. Brian is a sweet guy. I mean ... don't fuck with him, but when he's your ally then you've got a real friend who will go to war for you. OMG, still on Aaron and Brian. What is it about those two you guys like so much? lol We'll see what happens with mother dearest. Stay tuned. 😉

"I find your lack of faith ... disturbing." hehehe. Yeah, this has indeed been written for a while. Ash and Ember spent over a year on the front page of Nifty - which was pretty flattering considering how it was such a slow burn compared to most other stories on that site. I'm glad you liked the chapter. No major stressors, nothing big going on. Just slice of life stuff. Grant needed a little mental vacation, I think. Thanks for the comment!

19 January 2019, Saturday 4:57 a.m. A startling soreness and pain woke Grant as he turned in his sleep. His legs hurt so much that he thought he had a cramp, but it was only muscle aches from all of the skiing he had done the day prior. He couldn't help but hiss as he shifted. Needing to use the bathroom, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. As he did, his eyes widened. His middle, back, ass and shoulders were sore too. He hadn't felt this level of pain from a physical effort in y

Hello, LD Stratton! Thanks for the great comment concerning my story, Guarded. This story is very different from anything else I have ever done, but I do like how it turned out. It does need a heavy edit for mechanical improvements (I can see all my errors now that I've been writing for another couple of years, and have more experience under my belt), and maybe I'll get to that sometime down the line. I honestly believe I lucked my way into a balanced telling that allowed the real threat to remain hidden for as long as possible. I don't know if I can ever pull off another like this. Of course, the temptation is to try. I've outlined a few future attempts, but I need to seriously think on how to pull off what I stumbled into with Guarded. Thank you again for the great comment. I'm happy that you enjoyed the story!

I responded to this, but my comment disappeared! 😞 Okay, trying again. Thanks for your comment, long1jo. After a bit of emotional processing, Troy is happy. He's emotional, understandably so I think, but he is happy. What a gift! Something he thought was gone forever was returned to him, and with the addition of a treasure in the form of John's letter. Grant's family? Drama? Whatever do you mean? 😛

Thanks, James! Grant is very relieved too. He waited as long as he could, and the impact on Troy was huge. Luckily they weathered it. 🙂

You are all terrible. 😛 Poor Aaron and Brian have no idea they're starring in so many fantasies. Though ... honestly, they'd be flattered.

Hrm ... the penalty shall be to post an additional eleven chapters of the story!