Lifting the Veil

This is a stand out story that should be read by everyone. It has many dark points but ends up with a bright ray of hope. It leaves you wishing Chester well for his future and sad for his recent past. It also opens your eyes to a life that many keep hidden from the rest of the world. This is my second time of reading this great story, the first read opened my eyes, the second opened them even wider.

This is a really good story that is very well written, I take my hat off to Gary's skills. 

A dark, tragic tale begins as Chester walks away from the funeral of his abusive husband, a man he both loved and then hated.  Briefly the veil is lifted and when it closes again Chester has closure and can begin to heal.  It ends in hope as Chester finds he has the will to live and the support and love to make it happen.  This is an eloquent tale of a second chances by one of GA's finest writers.

This is a brilliant story about a relationship that started out loving and turned dark, including how that cycle was eventually broken.  The story is powerfully written and you can feel the emotions experienced by the couple, both through the highs and the lows, as well as during the backstory.  This tale ends on a positive note, though, giving us all something to smile about.  Do yourself a favor and give this short story a read, and I'm sure you'll be glad you did. 

There are several reasons I find this story special in spite of the sad parts. The quiet courage and dignity of the main character. The understanding we gain on how his abuser acted the way he did. The way Gary holds out a ray of hope for us to cling to even in the darkest parts of the story. And finally, how a huge tree played a crucial (even magical) role in the story.

Wow what a great and dark story. So different for Gary still lots of Gary Magic