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+

Not enough ratings

11 Chs

Chapter 6

Todd wanted to be alone. No Cal. And certainly no Essie.

With a shaking hand, he drained Cal’s can of Bud, then gave him what he hoped passed for a grin. “I’m beat.”

Cal cocked his head. “You want I should go?”

No. I want you should stay. I want you should take care of me like you took care of Mom. I want you to show me the pecs under that tight tank top. I want you to kiss my lips, gently at first, and then give me a full-on mash with lips, tongue, even teeth. I want you to throw back the covers on the bed upstairs and crawl onto the bed with me. I want you to cover me like a big, furry man blanket. I want to count your freckles. I want you to make all the hurt and pain and disease inside to vanish—poof—and never come back.

I want you to be my friend.

I want you to be my lover.

I want to have a future with you.

I want to have a future.

But what Todd said was, “Yeah. Do you mind?”

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