The Weight of Our Expectation

Introduction

As of September 2024, this book is an experiment. I'm going to post various chapters and segments as I complete them. They will come out in a random fashion with no rhyme or reason. Eventually, there will be enough that I can put them in order and have a completed, fluid narrative.

Meanwhile, you get to read and comment, potentially influencing the characters and plot development. I have the story planned out, but if you ask "why this?" questions or ask for backstories, you'll probably have a big impact on things as I move forward.

Because it's possible that I'll rearrange paragraphs and sentences, comments might disappear. Just relax and know that I'll read each and every one. If you really want to help add something to the story, you can post it to Twitter (ugh, X, okay whatever) over there:

(at) jecuchaco

I'll read (and probably reply) to each suggestion or error you catch. Maybe we'll turn that whole thing into a competition for character art tshirts or stickers...so post early, post often!

Each chapter will have a date at the top, indicating when it was last significantly revised. If I'm just correcting grammar, spelling, or sentence structure and not plot or character development, I won't change the date on it.

Eventually, I'll have all the parts and pieces and will arrange the chapters in an order that makes sense.

What you need to know: This story is based on people I know. We met once at a party, a few years ago, and over the course of an evening I ended up getting more of their stories than I ever imagined. It was just one of those weird nights. I never saw either of them again until more recently, and by that time I'd already thought of writing a novel series based on them. I had about an hour to ask all my follow-up questions while waiting at the airport for my flight to Lexington, and boy howdy was that worth it.

I got permission for this ficitonalization, of course. The names are completely different, as are the neighborhoods and such. Relationships between family and friends, coaches and advisors, are all pretty much imagined, as you would expect. I got the basic gists from the OGs for those bits, but it's mostly all me.

Oh — and here's a trigger warning: This series will not include any trigger warnings. Life doesn't come with warning labels, and I'm not a fan of them in articles or fiction. If that causes anxiety, I understand. I'm sorry that my approach doesn't fit every reader's needs, but my needs are just as valid too. (Right?)

With that said, just know that one of the OGs almost experienced sexual abuse. Someone was grooming him, but it didn't get any further. He ended up getting a good friend out of the deal.

Dedication

Cheers to the two men who were once the boys in this story.

Your remarkable courage to persist, to overcome, and to improve, has made me stronger.

Thank you for agreeing to share your lives with all of us.

And now, on with the show!

—J.E.C.