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

Grandpa Mac greeted him at the door. “I put fresh towels in the room next to Jimmy’s. If there’s anything else you need, just say the word.”


In his emotional state, such a simple gesture hit him hard. “Thank you for letting me stay,” he choked out. “I promise it won’t be for long.”


Grandpa waved him off. “You’re family, so this is your home, too. You’ll always be welcome here.”


Ronnie fled up the stairs before he lost it. He was walking the knife edge of his emotions right now.


He closed the curtains, casting a veil of shadows over the otherwise bright room, but sagged against the wall instead of walking back to the bed. Was this really his life? Hiding in the dark until the world made him angry enough to come exploding out of his hole and tear it to pieces? The only way Father would ever allow him to move back was if he ate serious crow, but Ronnie didn’t know if he could promise not to attack the man again if he went after Mom.


Chapter 17