Hurts Like Heaven

The sudden passing of her landlord leaves Michelle "Micki" Berdette and the rest of her fellow residents with a surprising place in his will, and a bundle of belongings that sends them spinning through the web of their lives and choices. Hurts Like Heaven follows six neighbors and friends along the rocky road of post-adolescence as they listen for their calling. Micki is on the fast-track to becoming the next great journalist, but is finding herself more and more out of touch with the world. Her brother Ryan is clueless, and searching for his niche. Claire is kicking up dust in a reckless search for independence, while her boyfriend Jason second-guesses the path set out for him. Logan is looking to break the chains of his overbearing family, and pursue a passion, instead. Phil is in the lull of an existential crisis, and lacks any drive to reignite his life. Facing the jolting death of the man that connects them all, they struggle through the angst and confusion towards something that might finally be called "grown up".

This story doesn't run parallel to Hell in a Handbasket, and is more something to play around with than anything. I'd like to take it seriously, as I have some ideas for it, but the opener was written around the same time I started HiaH, so there are plenty of similarities (including setting, general feel, etc.), and even a repeated character or two. But that being said, I really would like to see it deviate somehow, and would love the same amount of feedback as I'd get for any story.