Every Bump, Every Stone

This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers.

The only moment Will vividly remembers from his childhood is saying good-bye to his dad. After his father left, Will received a series of letters from him detailing the strange malady that had forced him to move away and into complete isolation.

But when, years later, he runs into his long-lost dad, the teenager learns a heart-wrenching secret that entirely reshapes his understanding of their separation. And with that new information, Will is forced to face the hard realizations that come from his first experience with deceit—and to question his vision of the future.