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    The Journey
    The Journey
    The Journey
    Ebook64 pages53 minutes

    The Journey

    By Mark Smith

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Eli and Dan, a couple in their mid-twenties, navigate the complexities of modern life and love in a vibrant city. After a series of personal and professional challenges, their relationship is tested, revealing the strength of their bond and their commitment to each other.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLulu.com
    Release dateAug 22, 2024
    ISBN9781304122797
    The Journey
    Author

    Mark Smith

    Hi! I'm Mark. 43, Married and father of three. I'm not an author, but I play one on Smashwords. And yes- Hawk is my real middle name given at birth.

    Read more from Mark Smith

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      Book preview

      The Journey - Mark Smith

      Mark Smith

      The Journey

      First published by lulu.com 2024

      Copyright © 2024 by Mark Smith

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

      First edition

      ISBN: 9781304122797

      This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

      Find out more at reedsy.com

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      Contents

      1. The Journey

      2. Chapter 1: The Edge of Uncertainty

      3. Chapter 2: The Mirror and the Mask

      4. Chapter 3: The Weight of Silence

      5. Chapter 4: Finding Balance

      6. Chapter 5: Breaking the Surface

      7. Chapter 6: Facing the World

      8. Chapter 7: A New Normal

      9. Chapter 8: Challenges Ahead

      10. Chapter 9: A New Beginning

      11. Chapter 10: A Test of Faith

      12. Chapter 11: Rebuilding Trust

      13. Chapter 12: The Road Ahead

      14. Chapter 13: Facing the Unknown

      15. Chapter 14: New Horizons

      16. Chapter 15: Rebuilding and Renewing

      1

      The Journey

      By: Mark Smith

      2

      Chapter 1: The Edge of Uncertainty

      Eli sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the blinking cursor on his phone screen. The text message from Dan had been sitting there for hours, unread. They’d met at a mutual friend’s party a few nights ago—a chance encounter, one of those serendipitous moments Eli had come to both crave and fear. Dan was charming, effortlessly confident, and openly gay. Eli, on the other hand, was still wrestling with the shadowy contours of his own identity.

      At twenty-five, Eli had always felt a bit like an outsider, caught between what was expected of him and the nebulous desires that tugged at him from within. He had dated women throughout college, gone through the motions of what seemed like a normal romantic life. But those relationships had felt hollow, like he was playing a role in a play he didn’t quite understand.

      The message remained unopened. It wasn’t just Dan’s name on the screen that made Eli’s chest tighten—it was the possibilities it represented. For years, Eli had pushed away the thoughts, the feelings, the questions. He had convinced himself that he was just a late bloomer, that maybe one day it would all click into place, and he’d feel what everyone else seemed to feel so effortlessly. But the more he tried to suppress it, the stronger the undercurrent became.

      He sighed, tossing the phone aside and falling back onto his bed. The ceiling stared down at him, blank and indifferent, as he tried to sort through the emotions swirling inside him. The loneliness was there, sharp and persistent, but it was accompanied by something else—something more terrifying. The fear of what it might mean if he opened that message, if he allowed himself to explore what he had always kept buried.

      Eli’s thoughts drifted back to the party. He had noticed Dan immediately, not because he was looking for him, but because he had felt drawn to him in a way that was both thrilling and unnerving. They had talked, laughed, and even flirted a little—Eli wasn’t sure if Dan had noticed, but he had caught himself doing it, feeling both exhilarated and guilty. When Dan asked for his number, Eli had hesitated for only a moment before giving it to him.

      Now, with the night behind him and the safety of daylight surrounding him, Eli wondered if he had made a mistake. What was he doing? What was he looking for? The answers eluded him, and the uncertainty gnawed at him like a persistent ache.

      His phone buzzed again, and Eli’s heart skipped a beat. This time, it wasn’t a new message—it was the same one, just sitting there, demanding attention. With a deep breath, Eli picked up the phone and unlocked the screen. His thumb hovered over Dan’s name, the pressure building in his chest. Finally, he tapped on the message, and the text opened with a simple, innocent greeting:

      Hey, Eli. I had a great time the other night. How about grabbing a coffee sometime?

      It was a straightforward invitation, friendly and non-threatening. But to Eli, it was a doorway—a doorway he had been too afraid to walk through for years.

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