Thetis

What do you do when everyone in your life has been less than honest?

Transitioning from high school to university is tough, but when your bio dad is horrible, your mom is a self-serving bitch, your bestie lies to you and your step-dad is pussy whipped, life can be tough.  Fortunately, lessons are learned and connections are made.  A truly interesting vignette that could be developed into a continuing story.  

I recommend it, but warning...you will be left wanting more!

I began by not liking our “hero” for his egoism and arrogance but over the course of the chapter his real character comes out and by the end he is wiser than his years and than most of the other characters.  
It has an assured hand and flows beautifully. For me, it is easily one of the best of the 2025 SA collection.   
Strongly recommended.  

Quite a few twists in this dynamic writing style. 

Thanks Secret Author.

Tim has kept secrets, but he has also been lied. A sad and painful story, but there is hope for Tim.

I recommend you continue reading.

I liked this. The secret is well done and the writing is effective. It's sad and painful, but there is hope too.  I recommend reading this.

It's difficult when people let us down, and I have no time for bad parenting. Sometimes it's even worse when friends do it. Gay kids have to be resilient, even in this day and age unfortunately. Check this story out... it's a great read. Cheers!

A heartfelt and compelling story about resilience, truth, and the quiet power of unconditional support. JJ’s journey, from surviving abuse and manipulation to finding a safe emotional harbor, is handled with honesty and nuance. Nanna’s fairness, Dave’s steady loyalty despite his own uncertainties, and the raw tension of confronting a parent’s prejudice create a narrative that feels both deeply human and emotionally satisfying. A moving portrayal of how genuine care can heal where family fails.

This... this was a joy to read for me. I ate every bit of it up.

Tim went through a shocking passage after graduating from high school. Life, friends and relatives threw Tim curve balls. You will find him keeping going. He did not lose his faith in himself or become embittered and suspicious. There are matters that encourage him. He knew he had a grandmother who cared for him and accepted he was gay. He moved away to attend college and begin a new chapter in his life.

A story with a lot of disappointment for the narrator as he learns some bitter lessons about the people around him, but none for the readers who can savor this well-written piece. Highly recommended.

Life is full of disappointments, some are minor and others more severe.  The minor disappointments are when an acquaintance disappoints you, and it's harder to deal with when a friend, especially a close friend disappoints you, but it can be totally devastating when your parents disappoint you.  How do you handle it when the ones that gave you life disappoint you?  Those can be the most severe blows of all.  It doesn't have to totally devastating or completely ruin your life, though.  It's how you deal with those disappointments that determines if you're a survivor or a loser.  

This is exactly the situation that the main character of this story, Timothy Chowder, has to deal with, so read this emotionally filled short story to discover which category he fits into.  Is Timothy Chowder a survivor or a just another loser?