The Pain of Masculinity

rough the trees, and even the sky seemed to pause and listen. Peace had long ridden the lan

ociety. George, a firefighter, was regarded as a local hero. Sam admired his father deeply-George commanded respect from both the young

rom a neighbor's apartment, townsfolk chatting, and the comforting hum of daily life. Sam took a quick detour past hi

whispered about the tragic car accident that had taken her parents years ago. Since then, she had moved from household to household.

lf. "I don't know." But deep down,

room. Sam was beaming with excitement-he was finally becoming a teenager. Geo

"There's a rite of passage in our family you must

nir passed down from my great-grandfather. It marks the transition into teenagehood for eve

ntment, George pulled

ed, "What is this

mbolizes the passage of time-a transition. It

up at the night sky, George said, "The stars are beautiful, son... but don't forget

e was happy-happy to be on his father's shoulders, st

the local clinic just a few blocks away, she was known for h

led-a quiet nod of appreciation for her del

to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. "I want to be an astronaut," Sam sai

matter what. The sky is the limit-as lon

s of town, and George's presence was needed. He quickly dressed, kissed Mary

, George left fo

eavier in her pregnancy, moved slower than usual. Sam couldn't wait for

him, trying to make sense of its meaning. He stuck his head out the window, feeling the cool breeze

ed the time clock under hi

ing in the cold silence of June. It was a strange time for a call. T

lway. There, he saw his mother sitting on th

ed blankly, like someone who had

rom the windows crept along his skin, and a shiver