‎We Giants: A Story of Brotherhood and Care

by Ila Golden

The problem isn’t that I forget things. It’s the order in which I remember.

So today is my tenth birthday.
No. Wait.
That isn’t right.

I’m not ten, I’m… Twelve…? Six…? Nine…? Twenty…?
Twenty.

I’m twenty.

And I can’t keep that straight because of the stupid thing in my head messing up my whole life. Making me forget important things, like how old I’m supposed to be. Or why I’m so afraid of my parents.

That’s why it feels like Mathew and Stuart have become my parents, instead of my brothers. Why Mikey is so stressed with me all the time. I know they’re trying. I know they’re just trying to keep me safe. I know they love me, but sometimes I wish they would just trust me.

My friends trust me. They still see me as me no matter what. Same goes for my girlfriend too. Roxy is amazing. I seriously can’t imagine what she sees in a skinny giant like me. But, whatever it is, I hope she never stops.

I want a future with her.
I want a future with all of them.
My friends. My brothers. All of them.

We giants are made of strong stuff.
Is that what being brothers means now?

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About the author

Ila Golden writes at the intersection of the everyday and the extraordinary. Specializing in character-driven magical realism and slice-of-life fiction, Ila’s work—including The Neva Aton Collection and the What Makes Me series—dives deep into the complexities of identity, trauma, and mental health.

​As a nonbinary, asexual-spectrum author, Ila is committed to authentic diversity. They craft stories where the plot is a byproduct of human (and sometimes monstrous) choices. Whether exploring the horror-tinged world of The Doll Maker’s Son or the contemporary fantasy of Echoe, their writing balances the weight of real-world struggles with the spark of the supernatural.
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Based in a home defined by puzzles and play, Ila shares their life with their partner and two miniature lops, Tempest and Chilchuck. When not writing, they are immersed in escape rooms, walking adventure books, and video games—constantly searching for the next story hidden in the mechanics of life.

If you have enjoyed any of Ila Goldens books please consider leaving a review.

Reviews

[William Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ila once again smashes it out of the park telling the last of the four boys stories in the Neva Aton collection. I was genuinely in tears at points of the book, and once again Ila has rounded out a cast of lovable characters, all going through their own stories. The tale of familial bonding, dealing with the awful nature of cancer, whilst just trying to not only exist, but live, is well worth a read.