This story is fiction rooted in reality. As an author navigating my own history with CPTSD and anxiety, I wrote this story to give a voice to the specific isolation that comes from trauma. While the plot is dramatic, the emotions are autobiographical. It is a story about how "happily ever after" isn't a fairy tale ending, but a choice to survive the darkness together.
Plot Summary
Fourteen-year-old Joel Tait is a ghost in his new high school, survivor of a violent trauma that left him with crippling PTSD. His albinism makes him a target for bullies, and his only goal is to survive. That plan shatters when he meets Samuel "Sam" Hughes, the school's charismatic, wealthy, and seemingly perfect Black basketball captain.
To the outside world, Sam has it all. In reality, he is secretly suffocating under the weight of a reading disability, his own confused identity, and the homophobic, abusive rage of his father, Sidney.
The connection between the two boys is immediate, magnetic, and forbidden. They are pulled into a secret, tender relationship where Sam, the "unwavering protector," finds someone to fight for, and Joel, the emotional survivor, finds someone safe to trust. But in their small, conservative town, their love is a dangerous liability. As they navigate their feelings, they must also face jealous teammates, cruel bullies, and the escalating threat of Sam's father, who sees Joel not just as a distraction, but as a "freak" who must be removed at any cost.
Their romance is not light or fluffy; it's a matter of life and death. It's the weapon they use to fight their battles. It's the sanctuary where they heal. It's the motivation that gives Sam the strength to fight his father and Joel the courage to face the world.
THE CHARACTERS
JOEL TAIT (14)
The Survivor. Born with albinism and suffering from severe PTSD after surviving a hate crime, Joel views himself as an Alien. He uses high fashion as armor to deflect from his pain. He is highly intelligent, observant, but deeply fearful, Joel’s arc is about finding the courage to be seen again.
SAMUEL "SAM" HUGHES (16)
The Prince. Sam is high school royalty. He's the captain of the basketball team, devilishly handsome, wealthy, and seemingly perfect in every way. Sam is living a lie to survive his father’s expectations and a future he doesn't want. He struggles with a hidden reading disability and the crushing weight of being the "perfect Black son" in a white town. His love language is protection.
SIDNEY HUGHES
The Antagonist. A former athlete—who failed to reach his NBA dream—turned wealthy rancher. Charming in public, a monster in private. He rules his family through fear and violence. He views Sam not as a son, but as an investment, and views Joel as a contagion that must be eradicated.
— Copyright Notice —
© 2025 Penn Owen Hurst. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by me. For permission requests, write to the author.
— Disclaimer —
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.