Amazing. You have crushed my heart. I’ve been reading almost nonstop for two days. You told this story so well I feel like I lost Jamie. It’s going to be a while before I can get over this. I hope you write more one day.

If this had be you 50th story it would still be a very good piece of work, that it is your first speaks to your talent. A very strong piece. Thank you.

There are always exceptions to the rule(s), everyone is different, but at the same time there are many emotions we share. In my experience, most of the time, regarding emotional trauma a patient's perspective is that there are things wrong with the world, their lives, society, whatever. A person tends to expect a way of changing that. In meeting the right therapist or whomever, again most of the time, their perspective changes to developing coping mechanisms, to adapting themselves, changing, processing, learning to live their lives in a healthy way. I thought you did well with Dr. Taylor.

I like this turning point, or the approach to it anyways. I think I said I know I'm not a good reader/reviewer because I lack patience. I have depression and anxiety disorders so I tend, most of the time, to avoid stories that are all doom and gloom. I like to think I read stories that help me to believe the positive, that there is hope if you can find the courage and strength to keep hanging on. Josua's struggle to find a reason to live and a way to deal with his past feels very real. That can only be because of the skill of the author, good writing.

One of the problems I have with my own writing is that often the younger characters sound too adultish. What I find brilliant about your work is the balance you strike between knowing/not knowing. Like every human I have had good/bad times, been confused, lost, angry, and most important, alone. When you feel there is no way life can get better or anything good can ever come to you and you need someone to be there I think that is one of the hardest challenges in a person's life, and sadly not all make it through. It makes it so much harder when a person can't/won't seek help, not just harder for them but for those who love them too. Great writing.

Okay, a glimmer of light in the tunnel? A small reward for reading 3 more chapters? Seriously though, this is marvelous character work. Authentic/real characters/situations are hard to put into words, often sounding, well, not realistic, not true. This is good stuff. Let's see how much further I can make it lol.

Hi, me again, maybe one more chapter lol?

I'm not trying to be ignorant or anything, just giving feedback, my thoughts etc. It is at this point I am wondering if I will continue reading. There doesn't seem to be anything good happening in Josua's life. His parents are failing him, he's alienating friends, he's being used by a sexual predator, and hurting Elliot who is obviously interested in him and as far as we can tell so far a nice guy, though if he continues to let Josua treat him badly instead of moving on to someone who would appreciate him. I am not a great reviewer as I have little patience, and though I know real life is not fair and many many people are unhappy I tend to read about good times and/or happy endings. Maybe one more chapter...

This is a great story, it's pulling one along. Even it's a very sad one. I like it and hope it goes on like this and even goes better for Josua.

That was a really, really, really sweet story to read.

Josua's plight was very moving and perfectly well-written. The suffering, the guilt, the mourning, the need to flee to be able to rebuild a semblance of normalcy, the desire to get close to people and form a relationship, while feeling like drowning.

Everything was very realistically handled, with the right amount of angst but enough hope to keep going with a smile.

Congratulations

I swear to God that I was constantly on the brink of tears throughout this entire story. Thankyou.

Oh but this isn't fair.
There isn't a series attached to these characters, I first met them four hours ago, but I have been sobbing my eyes out this last chapter - well, I cried during the whole thing, but it was particularly violent a couple minutes ago.
I don't know how you got me so attached to your characters so quickly, but I both love you and hate you right now.

Josua starts off extremely lonely, self-punishment for the guilt he feels about his brother. He goes through a lot of pain, but healing can be pretty painful-especially the emotional scars. I felt the story ended well, while not all is fixed, Josua is at least on the path to healing.

The writing is clean and emotional, and the voice you wrote for Josua works really well. Anyways, thanks for sharing this story.

This was extremely well written. The characters were develpoped so well. It was really realistic. I feel like josua is feeling what someone who really went through that would really feel. When he wanted to scream at jamie to make him remember...I did too. When he wanted to lay in bed all day long and just die...I did too. This story really got to me. I work at walmart as a cashier and there is a group of mentally disabled people that come through every once in a while. Ive always been nice to them of course. But now...its completely different. I think of how many people out there love them and wonder if theyre being taken care of properly...just things that I never really thought before. I just wanted you to know that my eyes have opened a little bit more because of your story.
Besides that...I really enjoyed everything else as well. Josua's realationship with jordan was very realistic. I'm glad you put that in there instead of jumping straight to the good guy because sometimes thats how things work in life. And then in the end...when logan came over...things were akward. After spending so much time appart and with everything josua's been through...its only plausible that things arent the same. All the little details in this...and I could go on...make the story so real. It was really sad, I cried a few times along with josua...but I'm so glad I read this. It was really amazing. I just wanted you to know that, and to give you a desent review. You deserve it. :)

I know this story was written a while ago, but I hope you will still see this post.

I greatly respect the choices you made as the author of this story. Reading it was slightly painful, and so very much worth the pain. You've created characters who were so easy to imagine and relate to. Their experiences and reactions were so real and so true.

Thank you so much for offering this story to the world. I am very grateful for the chance to read it and have it be part of my world.