ChromedOutCortex

Recently enjoying music by Jonah Kagen, I love this one and Broken.

Hey - Was too busy posting and I am finally taking time to look at the forums and thought to introduce myself. ChromedOutCortex here (cyberpunkish reference). I came out about a year ago after being in a marriage for 20+ years and two kids later. Lets just say life was challenging. Things are finally settling down - ex and I are on speaking terms (she cooks for me from time to time - that's good, right?), kids still love me (LOL), I've got a BF and started writing again and sharing my experiences via story.

Thank you for such a thoughtful and beautifully written comment. You’ve captured the complexities of both sets of parents so well, and I agree—Manny and Robby’s best path forward is to focus on themselves, understand that life will have challenges but together they can overcome them. Letting go of what’s beyond their control is such a powerful reminder (no matter how difficult it is to do). As always, I really appreciate your insights!

Hi Steve - Thank you so much for staying around so long! Yes, there are 4 - 5 more chapters coming.

Robby sat on the edge of the bed, the room cloaked in the quiet hum of the city beyond the window. Manny was asleep, his breathing soft and steady, a rhythm Robby had come to find comforting over the months. But tonight, it wasn’t enough to quiet the storm raging inside him. Slowly, quietly, Robby slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Manny. The soft glow of the moonlight spilled through the window, guiding his steps as he made his way to the living room. He sank onto the sofa, the sil

Thank you, yest - it was difficult to write as well. Many tears were shed writing this and the following chapters. 😢

Thank you - this was difficult for me to write, spent a lot of time listening to sad songs to get into that headspace but the sad reality is that families reject their children for so many reasons. I really wanted to show how one partner stood with another and was willing to sacrifice one family for another. Sometimes in our willingness to appease we "forget" who we will be spending our lives with and the support that they've given us.

Part 1 - A Stronger Bond The weeks after their beach trip were some of the happiest Manny had ever experienced. The tension that had once hung over them seemed to dissolve in the ocean air, leaving behind a relationship that was stronger, more intimate, and filled with a renewed sense of purpose. Manny and Robby had always been close, but now, their bond felt unbreakable. They had navigated the challenges of their third year together, and in the process, they had discovered just how much the

Part 1 - Take Me To The Beach The tension of the past few weeks had worn on both Manny and Robby, so when the idea of a weekend getaway to the beach came up, it felt like a breath of fresh air. They both needed a break from the pressures of school and the strain that had crept into their relationship. A few days away from it all—just the two of them—seemed like the perfect escape. They left the city early on a Saturday morning, Robby driving them along the winding coastal roads, the oce

100% Regardless of the type of relationship you have gay/straight/whatever - making time for your loved ones is so important.

You are right - he needs to be more assertive. 🙂

Thank you - I had thought about that as I was writing this; but at that point in time it felt that Manny was still a bit immature. He's still trying to hide from his past a little. His parents know he's gay, though they think he's "confused". He's come out to his friends, and his friends accepted him. He should have just told his parents -- but also, is the telephone the best way? I try to incorporate real life events/situations when I write. I've gone through some of this, as have friends that I've met. Coming out has got to be one of the hardest things for anyone to do. Good friend of mine is still struggling, and I don't think he ever will come out. 😞

Part 1 - Public and Private As the semester continued, Manny and Robby’s relationship became a delicate dance between shared and intimate moments. Robby, with his natural confidence and outgoing personality, never hesitated to show affection in public, whether it was with Manny, Cindy, or any of their friends. He had a kind of childlike innocence about him, an openness that Manny admired but struggled to emulate. Robby was the same as always in public—lively, talkative, and full of ener

Part 1 - Back to the City The bus ride back to the city was long and uneventful. The landscape gradually shifted from the familiar countryside to the towering buildings and busy streets that Mason had come to associate with his new life. As the hours passed, Mason again found himself grateful for his mom’s thoughtful gesture of packing food. The sandwiches and fresh bread she had made were his last tangible connection to home, a comforting reminder of the warmth and care he was leaving behin

Thank you for the kind word - it's nice to rekindle memories, to remember where we've come from and how far we have gone.