Chris and Aaron have hit a rough patch in their relationship, but it isn't anything they can't weather. Part of the disconnect stems from their different work schedules -- Chris works in an office during the day, while Aaron works swing shift at a plant, sometimes working days, sometimes afternoons, sometimes nights. The odd shift causes stress in their relationship, but Chris knows they can work through it together. Then he discovers Aaron is secretly taking prescription drugs for depression. Suddenly Chris feels as if he doesn't know Aaron any more. He's afraid to bring up the pills he found, but more afraid of losing his lover. To mistrust, to denial, to addiction. He tells himself he'll step in before it's too late. But will he be able to figure out when to step in and say something? Or will Aaron's growing dependence on prescriptions drive them apart?

Crash and Burn

When I don’t open my eyes, he scoots closer still and drapes a leg over my hip, an arm over my shoulder. Then he kisses me, a quick press of lips he sometimes uses to wake me up. Tiny kisses, each one lingering, each one longer than the last. I love waking to them.


But I’m not really asleep, so I open my eyes and look at him. Now his eyes are closed, the eyelids almost translucent and pinkish in the low light thrown from between the curtains. His eyelashes are long and curved, each one beautiful. I could count them, each and every one—I’ve done that before. I’ve watched him sleep by the early light and counted his eyelashes, then brushed my fingertip over them to feel them flutter against my skin. I’ve smoothed down his eyebrows, too—they feel like fuzzy caterpillars, and the one time I rubbed them the wrong way, they all stood up and he snickered beneath my touch.


Chapter 6