Cane23

I watched it... Whatever we may think of Woody Allen personally, he is undoubtedly a great - if eccentric - artist. As for the Godfather III association, I didn't mean it as an inspiration for the book as a whole. I meant that specific final scene, when Don Michael Corleone's son makes his debut as Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana at Teatro Massimo. Interesting, isn't it? Another opera about passion, jealousy, and Italian vendetta - this one set in Sicily on Easter morning. Which brings us to the finale of your amazing story. After the "dirty cop" twist in this chapter, I'm so impatient to see what kind of resolution you're going to bring to this story!

That's it!

It doesn't have to end in tragedy or even result in lifelong consequences. The healing and rehabilitation process alone can be long and slow enough to become life-changing - not just for the injured person, but for the entire family. Yeah...life was 'too' good!

Dad is amazing! And now, a full house of officers as the welcoming committee. Life is treating Kurtis really well! 😉

Wow... what a twist at the end! 😉 And now, the grand finale at the opera house... I'm already getting The Godfather Part III vibes! BTW, I think I know who inspired the Connor character! While searching for that picture from your previous story on your website, I couldn't help noticing you're a fan...

It's so pompuos of a mafia assassin to think of himself as the jealous Othello who is going to kill his Desdemona. I almost want him to end up in the buck-basket as Falstaf!

one missing 😁

Bravi maestro @Boy Mercury X! 👏

This might also do:

I can imagine driving fast while listening to the late Bonnie:

Great chapter! We see them when they’re relaxed and feeling more comfortable… the masks slightly come down, just enough to give us a glimpse of the real faces these boys have when they’re not performing. Oh, and they are performing… a lot. But in this light and joyful chapter, something caught my attention - something that might seem like a small thing but still stands in contrast to the overall feeling of enjoyment and happiness - Abelard’s health issues. Always perceptive, Lawrence noticed it too… How serious is this really?

This insomnia-shaped chapter leaves you with the feeling that their communication is always floating somewhere between reality and a dream. Apart from the lovemaking, when they let their lips, arms, and bodies speak for themselves, their nonverbal communication still feels somehow stiff. One has attachment issues and the other has abandonment issues, and when it comes to showing affection - touch, hugs, kisses - they behave like kids, filling the empty spaces with the word “right!” It’s going to be interesting to see how these final walls begin to melt away. But they are definitely moving in that direction.

One just cannot help but adore Elliot’s circle of friends. While Priya sees and presents all the challenges of this relationship - Theo’s insecurities, the fact that he’s still officially in the closet, his former wife, and, of course, the child - Dom sees it as the lottery win of a lifetime. Elliot got a man with the physical attributes of a gay dream, but one who is completely new to the scene… actually, a gay tabula rasa, handed to Elliot to shape. 😂 I’ll add one crazy, non-aligned factor to the mix - the working hours both Elliot and Theo have. Elliot is working daily shifts, while Theo works at night, so it must be very difficult for them to find any time together outside of work. That feels like another potential challenge waiting to happen. The other amazing thing in this chapter was Elliot’s business presentation. I enjoyed it with the same excitement I would feel reading about someone winning a prize or a competition. Elliot in his full, shining glory! ✨ Now, there was that small but unsettling part when his boss was checking him out, followed by an invitation to a “20-minute” meeting. Is this going to become messy, or is Elliot somehow going to manage to keep his man, his job, and his dignity?

I really like the dynamics of this story. Based on my latest reading experience, I was expecting something more slow burn...a day-to-day kind of story. But you're making these time jumps, which make me really curious about how the plot will develop. What initially seemed like the main plot (Miles's background and identity) now seems to be just an introduction to the events that follow. This makes the expectations and anticipation even higher.

Just to see about that fund and you're off the hook! 😂

This story has everything: cowboys, mystery, werecreatures, and, ultimately, a heartwarming HEA! ❤️ @chris191070 has written another amazing little story, and even though I didn’t guess he was the author of this year’s SA contest entry, you can definitely tell it contains the best of Chris: adventure, charm, imagination, and plenty of heart. If you’re looking for a fun little adventure with a satisfying ending, read it and enjoy! 🤠✨

Not @Mikiesboy's first sci-fi story, but this time, it goes even deeper. In just three chapters, the author explores some profound existential dilemmas: Where do we come from? Where do we belong? And what is our final destination? Is our place with our family, or somewhere else - somewhere we are needed more? When James Carson wakes up aboard an abandoned ship, he begins a journey to find answers to these questions. But this is one of those stories that doesn’t serve you definitive answers. Instead, it makes you think, question, and ultimately search for your own road, your own journey, and your own destination. Beautifully written, tim. Bravo!

When @Mikiesboy writes comedy, the genre should be written with a capital C! This little story has everything a good, non-banal Comedy should have: an (anti)hero who needs to get his head out of his ass, a genie, and a spark of magic that we could all use to make our lives a little better. Read it, enjoy it, and let a little of that magic rub off on you.

This chapter is a reminder of how dangerous their journey really is and how many challenges they could face along the way. Now I'm genuinely worried about Willy James - I just hope he arrives safely. Great chapter - it feels like they're almost home!

The darkest era of humankind - the rise of the Third Reich. Books are burning. The Night of the Long Knives begins. Fanaticism takes hold, betrayal follows and eventually comes the ultimate horror - the Holocaust. We follow two couples, separated by decades but mysteriously connected. The first couple are contemporaries of Nazism, witnessing the burning of books and the atrocities unfolding around them. The second couple arrives in Berlin many years later, visiting the memorial that stands where those books were once burned. What connects these two couples? How can fanaticism lead to betrayal? And can the spark of love, once threatened by the flames of hatred, survive long enough to ignite something in people living generations later - people who must carry the burden of a dark and painful past? This is a remarkable novel about love, memory, betrayal, and the consequences of fanaticism. It reminds us why some moments in history must never be forgotten. Read it and discover why @Gary L was chosen as the winner of this year's SA Contest. Bravo!

HOT!!! 🔥🔥🔥

Rory is at the wrong window and finds himself in the wrong apartment, but, surprisingly, he is exactly where he needs to be. He encounters a magic mirror - not a fortune-telling one, but a mirror that looks into your soul. And what this mirror sees in Rory’s soul and reveals to him is truly life changing. But is Rory ready to face the truth about himself? And, more importantly, is he ready to accept it? @Topher Lydon delivers this amazing story of self-discovery, making it a great contribution to this year’s SA competition.

If you’d at least let them fly on the spaceship at the end of the story, we could have guessed… but you were consistent! 😁 Btw, there’s a bit of a Comicality vibe in your story - I think he would be proud!

I just want to add - if @Jason Rimbaud had finished his story The Thing About Konstantin in time for the SA competition, I would never have guessed it was his! A damn good story!