I am drowning in work so I’m just jumping into this.

Still snipping from These Haunted Hills

Brendan is now in Columbus waiting for his ex-wife, Heather, to arrive.

She waved to him, got herself one of those sugary confection coffees she loved so much before coming over to hug him. Heather sat down with him, smiling. “I can’t believe it but it looks like the country agrees with you. You look….I don’t know, lighter than I’ve seen you in years. Tired yes but good.”

He smiled faintly. “Had a hard night but yeah, I have to say, this research trip has been nothing like I imagined. I wanted to get a story but I’m getting more than I bargained for. And you look great too, hon.”

She did. God she was beautiful in love. They’d been college sweethearts. He’d seen her through terrible times and seeing her now bright and shiny as she’d been that night in the Tau Kappa Epsilon house party, Brendan couldn’t help but smile. Their time in love was over and he felt no jealousy over her finding love again. She was happy and if anything, their son would never have wanted them to be too sad to live on.

If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!

I missed last week and nearly missed this one, it’s the start of the semester which is always brutal.

I’ll dive right back into These Haunted Hills It’s picking up after Brendan ran back to Columbus after a b it of a break down with Josh. It’s been a while since we’ve seen her but Heather is his ex-wife with whom Brendan is still friends (and I changed her name since we last saw her) It’s been a long this time just to capture the moment.

Pulling into the lot for his favorite coffee shop, Brendan glanced around. Heather’s car wasn’t here yet but she would come like he asked. He ordered the largest cappuccino they offered and a chocolate zucchini muffin – he’d been good in the Hocking Hills, not too many sweets and he’d been walking. He wouldn’t want to get paunchy. He’d look pregnant what with his little frame. What he wouldn’t give to at least have shoulders like Josh did. Finding a seat, Brendan pulled out his cell phone.

I’ll be back tomorrow. I still want to go to the hotel with the team. He grimaced slightly as he sent the text. People mocked him for not using text speak and texting full sentences but he couldn’t help it. Anything else made him cringe. Josh texted back with a single thumb’s up emoji. Oh well, he couldn’t have everything but really an emoji? Of course, his brother was in the habit of randomly sending him poop emojis for the hell of it.

A second text came in. Will have everything ready. Hope U R OK. Call if you need anything.

Oh how tempting that was text speak aside. He probably would call Josh tonight. Whatever this was between them, this thing he had battered and bruised in the last twenty four hours needed nurturing. Even a quick call would probably do it. He considered calling that very moment but was saved from his neediness by Heather’s arrival.

If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!

Sliding in last minute again. I’ve been hiding from social media in light of everything but it’s been good for me finally finishing the rough draft of my overdue research paper. I got it done and need to let it sit and marinate before I tear it to shreds.

Picking up with These Haunted Hills again. Last week we saw the aftermath of Brendan’s emotional meltdown from Josh’s pov. This week we’re in Brendan’s head.

Brendan almost hadn’t been able to go into his house once he got into Dublin. He was terrified that he’d go in and see Connor there. Josh and his friends had really gotten to him. He had gotten into this mess because he thought Connor was trapped in his home. Now he felt that fear more keenly.

He’d been grateful that his psychiatrist had a cancelation and could make time for him today. Brendan hated running out on Josh like that. What must he think?

He seemed understanding the night before but this had to seem like fleeing to Josh. Brendan felt oddly uncomfortable with saying I need to see my shrink. No, not odd. He worried Josh would think that he couldn’t handle the intimacy and ran away to seek help. Of course, that was exactly what it was but it would hurt Josh and Brendan knew it.

If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!

Since I’m running way behind, I’ll merely say I hope 2021 puts us on a healing path. I don’t expect it to be better immediately but I hope by the end it will be.

I’m continuing with These Haunted Hills Picking up from last week, Joshua is afraid Brendan might have gone back to Columbus for good after his emotional collapse at the cabin.

Jackson was some forty miles away but he didn’t feel any more at peace on the drive. He pulled into his parents’ drive. Dad would still be at work but it wasn’t Mom’s day at the library Josh hooked the leashes to his cats’ harnesses and let them out of the car. They jogged their furry bulk to the door, talking about it the whole way. His mother opened the door before he could even get his key out.

He took a deep breath, trying to beat back the emotion welling up. “Mom, I think I really messed up.”

She pulled him into a hug and for the first time since he woke up, Josh thought maybe things could work out.