Cane23

This amazing story is @Topher Lydon's testimony and a tribute honoring the memory of the victims of the 1950s and 1960s prosecution of gay and bisexual men in the UK. It is a dark story that punches you directly in the gut, one that shows both the lowest and the highest in humankind. At the center of the story is a group of boys, guilty of loving the "wrong" person, locked inside a dark and ruthless correction facility set in an old fortress above the North Sea. When social status and wealth no longer matter - just the warm hug of the boy beside you - and the enemy is determined to erase you physically and psychologically, the unity of the pack and a strong will become their sole weapons. A warning to readers should be noted that some parts are very difficult to read due to the brutality and torture. Yet, the importance of the subject and @Topher Lydon's magnificent writing makes it an absolute must-read.

Maybe I'm reading this story differently, but I never saw Troy and Miles simply as the "good guy" and the "bad guy." From the beginning - as the title itself says, ...the Long Road Home - for me, this was a story of a journey. And though I understand readers' disappointment with Miles and his leaving Troy, it was never something as ugly as cheating that would make me see him as the irredeemable villain of the story. Miles' childhood was so much different than Troy's; although Troy had his own share of pain and trauma with his twin, he was surrounded by a supportive and accepting family. If we look at the years Miles spent on the boat, what do we see? A boy alone with his mother - and that makes the relationship between Miles and Robbie so touching, as it reflects Miles finally getting to claim the precious time with a mother that he never had. There is a clear contrast between Miles' and Troy's chapters. As much as I enjoy Miles' journey and the adventures of a boy, it's obvious that Troy has grown up. He has become a man. His life, much like reality, lacks grand adventures, but it confronts us with the very real problems that come with maturity. So, they are on different roads and at different stages of growing up. If the possibility of renewing their relationship ever occurs, it won't just be because of Miles' apologies; it will be because their lives and minds have finally reached the same page.

Well...

Miles has a companion!

Aww, Kaleo had his Pretty Woman moment!

Though in a terminological sense, nazism and fascism are different things, in regular speech, fascism is often used as an umbrella term - though I've noticed that in the USA, people tend to use 'Nazi' for that purpose instead. So, when Calloway says 'fascist', he's using it as a general term for the ideology.

Same here! Honestly, you totally owe us and them a nice epilogue, or at least a short story about where they end up. 😁

This is by far the most exciting, tense, and suspenseful chapter I've read in a long time! At one point, I literally felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest!

B E A U T I F U L!!!

Niran: "Yeeees Kaleo...it's sooo goood..." Kaleo: "Daddy...can Doryu have friends over for a sleepover?!" Niran: "Yeeees baby...wait, what?!"

Thomas will have to put in a performance of a lifetime and play his role. I'm eagerly waiting to see it!

This chapter goes beyond bonding and unity - it reveals the transformative power of sacrifice. Magnificent!

Let's just hope insulin will 'miraculosly' disappear the same way medical supplies do!

So, he wasn’t gone with the circus, nor did he go with the other guy - and he certainly wasn’t transferred in a time machine. Willy James was already there, impatiently waiting for his friends for four days! 😁 What a beautiful reunion! 💗

Let them build the walls - we’ll fight back appropriately… with glory holes! 😏

Good old Dickie, he would be so proud of Andrew! 🤪

Olneth for sure won't be winning the prize Mother of the Year! 😜

Kaxe doing something like this on some formal Lady Miller's dinner! 😁

Did I miss something? Where's Carter? Did he leave after the inspection? And now that we know Miller's dad actually has a conscience, can we expect him to do more for his son and the boys?

I really appreciate the way you end every chapter. No matter what new obstacle the boys face, you always leave them with a small victory - even if it seems tiny or insignificant at first glance. That little win makes me finish each chapter with a sense of hope. Thank you for that!

Wow, that's some serious flirting. If they got any hotter, they'd melt the golf club! 🔥😉

In some symbolic way, that's where Miles belongs.