Something Beautiful Remains

By Thomas Grant Bruso

Harry Lennon and Zeke Hodge spent many wonderful years together, but five years ago, Harry made the grim decision to admit his life-partner to a permanent housing facility at Saint Keller’s Nursing Home for the Aging. Riddled with Alzheimer’s, Zeke barely recognizes Harry anymore. As he tries to help Zeke recall small occurrences in the forty-two years they shared together, Harry wrestles with his worst fear: watching his partner slowly deteriorate in front of him.

During Zeke’s last months at Saint Keller’s, Harry notices his partner gradually slipping away. Zeke grows more violent and disruptive with the orderlies, and becomes a stranger with whom Harry cannot identify. When Harry succumbs to one of life’s harsh realities, what reason can he find to keep living?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Mar 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611527582

Thomas Grant Bruso

Thomas Grant Bruso graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in theatre performance and English writing. He knew at an early age he wanted to be a writer. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since he was a kid. His literary inspirations are Dean Koontz, Karin Fossum, Jeffery Deaver, Joyce Carol Oates, and John Connolly. He loves animals, book-reading, writing fiction, and prefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles. He writes book reviews for his hometown newspaper, The Press Republican. He lives in Plattsburgh with his husband, Paul, and their miniature pincher diva, Riley. For more information, please visit facebook.com/thomasgrantbruso.

Book preview

Something Beautiful Remains

By Thomas Grant Bruso

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2015 Thomas Grant Bruso

ISBN 9781611527582

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

* * * *

For Paul and Beth, who inspire me to be a better person and writer every day.

* * * *

Something Beautiful Remains

By Thomas Grant Bruso

Harry Lennon stares as his partner of forty-two years brushes the July heat from his face with the heel of his hand. Sweat collects on Zeke’s palm, and he wipes the sticky residue onto his white chinos.

He watches Zeke compose and recompose his hands in a circular motion on his lap. Harry has brought along a picture album, a celebration of happier times. He flips through Sunday picnics, fishing trips, and holiday gatherings.

Who are you? Zeke asks Harry.

In slow, measured breaths, Harry balances the album in one hand, while the other hand clenches the side of the bench, white-knuckled. It’s me…Harry. He turns to his partner; Zeke’s haggard face is engraved with sadness. Zeke gazes out into a veil of early morning light.

I have a class to teach today, says Zeke.