ChromedOutCortex

Saw this the other day, and added it to my play list. Good song.

Saturday morning. Pride. The night before, I barely slept. My mind kept replaying everything from school, little moments, small goodbyes, that handshake with Jamie I couldn’t stop thinking about. Even after everyone else went to bed, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the next day would bring. When the first light crept in around the curtains, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves twisting in my stomach. Pride always sounded amazing in theory, but I’d never actually go

When I got home, I stepped through the front door and heard the TV on in the living room, Jayden was already back. Not sure how he made it home before I did, but at least he was back. I dropped my bag by the door and walked in to find him sprawled on the couch, flipping channels like he owned the place. “Hey, bro! You made it home,” Jayden said with a grin. “Sooo… is that the guy?” “What?” I asked, already suspicious. “Who are you talking about?” “Come on, Adam. I saw you walking

The weekend went by quickly. I worked on Saturday, and Sunday was reserved for homework and studying. No real time for anything else, but somehow, this weekend dragged. I was hoping it would pass faster so I could see Jamie on Monday and figure out if he really meant what he said. I was probably reading too much into it. I tried to focus on studying, but my mind kept wandering. I stared at my science textbook for hours, and the words just sat there, unmoving. Normally, they jumped out at me, pul

Jamie was beautiful. Not in a way that made you feel uncomfortable, but in the kind of way that drew people in, his smile was always so genuine, the kind that made you think maybe he was a little too good to be true. He had that effortless charm. The kind that made him instantly popular, even though he had moved here at the start of the year. He was new to the school, but it didn’t take long for everyone to like him, and by the end of the semester, he was one of the most talked-about guys i

Thank you all SO MUCH for the kind words! It means a lot to me. I do have a little more to tell about Jon and Jim journey - stay tuned! 💕

Three Years Later The music swelled as the bride appeared at the end of the aisle, but my eyes weren’t on her. They were on Keith. He stood at the front of the small mountain chapel, his posture relaxed, hands steady, hair neatly trimmed. His eyes, already glassy, were locked on the woman walking toward him. A small, quiet smile curved his lips. I hadn’t seen him look this peaceful in years. And in that moment, I could hardly breathe. Not from regret. From awe.

Chapter 1 coming pretty soon! As I commented on another post, this was a difficult one to write. Maybe I bit off more than I can chew? Time will tell. I hope you follow along and comment as the story progresses. 💕

Thank you so much for your feedback! You really picked up on exactly what I am hoping to explore, the idea that sometimes the worlds we create in our minds become almost more real and comforting than reality, especially when the stakes feel so high. I love your comparison to a writer or a viewer getting lost in a fictional world, except in Adam's case, it's a private universe that's both a sanctuary and a trap. You're absolutely right about Adam's hesitation to reconnect with the real Jamie - but, is he real? How much is real? How much is fantasy? He's spent years perfecting the perfect life - but does anyone have a perfect life? Part of the story's tension is whether Adam can risk letting go of that safe, idealized world to face whatever (and whoever) reality has to offer, knowing it might hurt but might also surprise him. Really appreciate your insights! Would love to know what you think as the story progresses. 💕

Thank you... not gonna lie, this was a challenging one and hopefully my thoughts play out on screen/paper, as they are in my mind. 🤔 💕

The scent of coffee, stale and bitter, hung in the air like old regrets. Rain traced frantic paths down the grimy windowpane of Adam’s apartment, smearing the glow of the laundromat sign across the street into watery streaks. He stared, not at the distorted city lights, but at the reflection caught in the glass. His own face, etched with the quiet exhaustion of thirty-five, seemed anchored there. But beside it, impossibly vivid against the rain-blurred gloom, was another reflection. His reflecti

Adam lives two lives. Alone in his sparse apartment at thirty-five, the tangible world is one of quiet isolation. The other life, vibrant and achingly detailed, exists solely in his mind. There, he shares a full existence with Jamie, the young man in high school that he secretly loved. Years of regret and yearning have meticulously constructed this parallel reality. Adam has built an entire imagined life: waking together, navigating careers, weathering arguments that end in embraces, celebrating anniversaries, and finding profound comfort in shared, ordinary moments.

Slowly, we all made our way into the house and settled in the family room to chat. Mi-Ra had brought her husband and their two daughters, who were the spitting image of their mother. Jaden was accompanied by his girlfriend, Jin, who appeared polite yet quiet, fitting in comfortably with the group. "Jon, meet the family. Mi-Ra, you already know. I've mentioned Jaden, and this is his girlfriend, Jin. Long story short, Mi-Ra and Jin were in a band together; Jin fell for Jaden, and here we are.

I'd like to think of Keith as someone complex. on the one hand he cares for his parents (or so it would seem - does he blame his mom in any of this? He doesn't really say... it almost seems like he lays some blame with her), but clearly doesn't really show it. He seems to have gone from being an extrovert (played basketball, a team sport) to hiding his feelings throughout his journey (the tough kid when he was younger, not crying when he hurt himself). Maybe he thinks he can tackle the world on his own, but when he sees the love between Alex, and Jon and yes even his mom still caring enough for Jim to invite him to stay in their home he realizes this is a journey you can't really take on your own. At some point, the walls have to come down... if there was something very traumatic you might be able to excuse his behavior. But I'd like to see Keith as the teenager being forced to deal with his dad "abandoning" him, trying to be the man of the house even though he never asked for the position. Maybe we'll learn more about Keith, and his journey with his father. 🤞

🙇‍♂️ Thank you!

Thank you for the kind words!

Around 4:00pm, I heard the front door open. A second later, Alex’s voice floated in. “We’re home.” I heard Alex’s footsteps head upstairs and then Jon’s lighter, slower steps coming down the hallway. He appeared at the office doorway, leaning casually against the frame. I hadn’t moved. I was still sitting there, eyes unfocused, staring at the wall. Jon took one look at me and walked in. “Hey,” he said softly. I blinked and turned my head, only half registering

The following week flew by in a blur. I was busy debriefing the VP and executive team on how the client meetings went, then meeting with Finance and Legal to iron out the renewal contract. Roger sent a few emails letting me know his team was working to finalize the reporting requirements. I gave Product and Engineering a heads-up that they’d be getting those details in a few weeks. They groaned, of course, tight timelines, sprint conflicts, resource constraints, same as always. But they did

It was about time, wasn't it? How long can you hold a grudge for...

@Summerabbacat - Thank you! Yes, a few more chapters left and hopefully a hopeful and happy ending. 😊

@Inkognito Thank you for the detailed response, and examples. Definitely useful and gives me ideas on how I can incorporate more of what you've suggested.

The flight back home was mostly uneventful. I was too excited to see Jon and the boys to sleep. Besides, I’d be landing around 7 p.m., who sleeps then? Instead, I fully enjoyed the business class service and soaked it all in. The return trip was more relaxed. I wasn’t stressed, and having scored a multi-year renewal, I felt like I could slack off for the rest of the year… but of course, that wasn’t going to happen. I’m too much of a workaholic. That’s what happens when you’re single for so

The week flew by, and suddenly it was Sunday. Jon arrived early, and the two of us dove into meal prep for the week. When Alex was free he joined in; Keith stayed upstairs, avoiding the chaos... or us. “This is kinda fun,” Alex said, chopping peppers. “It is,” Jon answered. “If you go away for university, you’ll want these skills. Hopefully by then your dad has mastered the coffee machine so he can coach you.” He shot me a smirk. “Last time he told me he was still learning,”

Teddy and I dated for just over a year before he proposed. In that time, he’d always been the perfect gentleman, never pushing me, never rushing me. I learned that not every guy was after just one thing. Our year together was filled with romance, real, tangible romance. When we held hands, it felt electric. When we hugged or kissed, it felt like the world stopped spinning. The connection we built felt too good to be true. But as we approached the one-year mark, my stomach started to churn.