Hope

After Todd's mother dies from cancer, he moves back to his hometown in the foothills of the Appalachians from Chicago. It's 1997 and he's just been given a death sentence -- an HIV-positive diagnosis. Todd expects his remaining time on earth to be spent alone. But Cal, his handsome next-door neighbor, has other ideas. Cal is not the only surprise in Todd's new life. Todd begins having visions of an older woman, Essie, when he dims the lights. Is she just a figment of his imagination? Or is she a truth teller? When she talks to Todd, she's smart and hopeful. When Todd tells Cal about the ghost, Cal knows her already because Todd's mother spoke with her before her death. Essie was a godsend when Todd's mom was in so much pain. And now, Essie urges Todd to live ... for himself ... for new love. But is she too late?

Rick R. Reed · LGBT+

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11 Chs

Chapter 11

In response Cal leaned forward on Todd’s couch and kissed him deeply. Todd savored the kiss, thinking it was the perfect way to usher in not only the new year, but also the twenty-first century. He let his head loll back against the cushions of the couch as Cal moved up and over him, straddling him and kissing him with increasing urgency, his beard rubbing against Todd’s smooth skin. Todd tasted champagne along with the familiar essence of Cal, something unbearably sweet, manly, and unique to Cal. He had been savoring this taste for the past three years on an almost daily basis, and yet it had failed to grow old even in the slightest.

To be continued

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