Standing By

Avery just couldn't stop fighting.

His entitled teammates. His dad's expectations. His mom's unwavering love. Himself. He fights constantly and is growing tired. He only ever seems to feel anger. If he's not angry, he's not feeling anything. Just going through the motions of his life. The only glimpse of happiness he can find is on the football field.

An chance happening lands him meeting Alex. A happy-go-lucky guy who seems to radiate with cheerfulness and an easy going nature.

Alex is an excellent actor. He is happy that he can fool everyone around him. Especially his parents. It would destroy them if they ever knew how miserable he really is. Living with his condition meant living like he was an eggshell. There were already cracks growing along his shell, and he knew the next major fall would crack everything open. He always seemed to pull through, but living this way for seventeen years has diminished Alex's hopes. He no longer thought of a future. Instead, he lived in the present and learned how to mask emotions.

As Avery and Alex's lives begin to weave with one another, they find themselves learning more and more about each other. And even more about themselves.

However, as a life hangs in the balance, both Alex and Avery are tested in ways they never thought possible.