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

He raises my chin to look me in the eye and asks, “Are you okay with this?”


Like I can tell him no. “I guess,” I whisper.


What I want to say is he shouldn’t need the pills. He has me. He should come to me—he should ask meto take the weight of the world off his shoulders when it gets too heavy for him, he should ask meto let the world turn without him when he barely manages to hang on. He does that for me. Why can’t he let me do it for him, too?


But I don’t say any of that and he starts kissing the pout away, his hands rubbing in all the right places, his lips eager and hungry on mine. Even though it’s a little before six in the evening, we manage to make up for last night. I lose myself in Aaron, and his hands and mouth make the rest of the world disappear.


Chapter 7