Apex Publications discussion

I loved this story!

How many times do you get the chance to read a story and see two sides to the same tale? Amazing.

Having both characters faced with a God that they didn't believe in, watching them struggle with the realization that everything they thought was wrong, and seeing how either way - no matter what decision they made - things still turn out badly...well, it isn't exactly a happy story, but it's very honest.

Jennifer is a master at writing emotions and this story is another testament to that.

I 've not read a lot of Jennifer Pelland, but I know people who think very highly of her work. It is obvious that she is very skilled at presenting very real human emotions and at the same time, evoking an emotional response from her readers. This story is terrifying because the situation presented is very real. It could happen to any of us. What makes this story interesting (and unsettling) is that the fear extends beyond the usual suspects (death, cancer, outliving your child) and extends into the realm of faith. We all believe in something. By its very definition, faith involves putting your trust in something you can't see or touch. No matter how strong your convictions, there's always the small nagging voice saying "what if I'm wrong?" In this story, they were both wrong and it made an impossible situation even harder.

You put it very well: "it isn't exactly a happy story, but it's very honest."

Lesley wrote: "I loved this story!

How many times do you get the chance to read a story and see two sides to the same tale? Amazing.

Having both characters faced with a God that they didn't believe in, watchin..."

I also love that God was an asshole in the story. "What? You think it's all 20 year old tits and kittens? Pfft. MAYBE."

Mostly, though, I can't believe the father's decision. I would hate to think that that would be any parent's choice when faced with something similar. Because Jesus. What a dick.

Probably not many don't know about my predilection for Jen Pelland fiction (*points at two Pelland books and a dozen published stories from Apex*). This story is a prime example of why. She knows how to write an edgy story that isn't insulting or hostile. Like with Ghosts of New York, she expertly writes about the pain of tragedy and loss.

Lesley nails it with "In this story, they were both wrong and it made an impossible situation even harder."

It's very easy to say that you would give up anything for someone else, be it a child, parent, spouse, or friend, but if actually confronted with the possibility, I wonder how many people would actually do it. Very thought provoking.