When they graduated from high school in 1962, best friends and secret lovers Jim McCutcheon and Ronnie Mayer had high expectations for the rest of their lives. Six years later, both are back in the small Nebraska town they called home, and worse, no longer together.<br><br>Once the golden boy, Jim now works on his grandfather's farm, away from the town's disappointment he didn't end up at NASA. Ronnie lives in his parents' basement, recovering from the blast that sent him home from Vietnam. Neither is where they want to be, but it takes a special request from Ronnie's mom for Jim to swallow his pride and visit.<br><br>Though it doesn't go well, it opens the door for the two young men to start communicating. One question haunts them, though. Have they changed too much to find their way back to each other again?

Silences of Fallen Stars

A blow landed over his injured ear, hard enough to make his entire head explode in lights. Ronnie cried out, and hands clawed at his arms, trying to separate him from the object of his fury.


Mom’s cries pierced his fog, but not before Father hit him again. Ronnie rolled away, trying to escape both of them, his breath coming short and fast.


Adrenaline still pumped through his veins, goading him into going after Father again, but when he lifted his head, Mom was in the way, bent over the man who’d only minutes ago lashed out at her, running soothing hands over his bowed back.


Chapter 14