Review: Almost Mine by Eden Winters
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2014
"The bad things in life open your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before." ~ from the movie "Good Will Hunting"Ian, of 'Almost Mine' by Eden Winters, has completely lost touch with his husband Travis, who left him two years ago. As Ian enumerates all the perks which Travis gave up when he left, and agonizes over what could possibly be wrong with him, he never once considers that it might be his fault instead. In a time when Travis needed Ian's time and support more than ever, he wasn't there. When their son, Bobby, practically begs him to go see Travis, Ian balks, but decides to go anyway so he can confront him once more.Ian is a successful, wealthy lawyer. He's married to Travis and they have an adopted son named Bobby. They live in a luxury apartment with all the comforts their financial status affords. In Ian's eyes life is perfect. Things are exactly as he wants them to be. When Bobby goes off to college Ian fills the time he took up with family dinners, trips, etc. with more work which also means more time away from home. He takes it for granted that his spouse, Travis for granted; he has always been there, never complaining, just going about his business of caregiver for the family, cooking, cleaning, taking care of Bobby, and nursing Ian and Bobby back to health when they were sick. Ian, may not realize it, but he treats Travis like a favorite toy Ian puts on a shelf and takes down whenever he wants to have time with him, or worse yet, like a piece of furniture, there and necessary, but requiring no attention. Ian isn't a bad person; he forgets that, unlike him, Travis is not an alpha male. He needs more love and encouragement than Ian does. Travis doesn't deserve being taken for granted, but that's exactly what Ian does. He needs for something big to happen to shake him out of his indifference and false pride before it's too late.Travis is a wonderful guy, but he makes a mistake that a lot of us make; he takes care of everyone but himself, hiding his depression, ashamed to bother Ian with it. Sadly, he thinks that he can handle it alone. When Bobby leaves for college, Travis is left with no one to take care of, since Ian obviously doesn't need to be taken care of, Travis is lost. He feels the total impact of the empty nest and it almost destroys him. Travis feels like he has no purpose in life and that Ian no longer needs him. Grasping at straws for a way to be useful, Travis moves out and goes back to his career as an actor. That's when the specter of depression weighs down on him the hardest. When Ian agrees to spend one more night with Travis, he is not prepared for what he finds. The awful truth of what he's allowed to happen between them comes down on him like a ton of bricks; he's ashamed and heavyhearted. Like someone before they die, he goes over his life with Travis and remembers just how much he loves him and acknowledges how much Travis has sacrificed for their family. Ian wonders if there is a way to retrieve their love or is it too late?It might be easy to say that Travis could have avoided their split by simply talking to Ian, but anyone who has not suffered with depression can't begin to imagine the awful toll it can take on a person. The feelings of uselessness, and the endless pattern of self-degradation never cease. It's like being in the worst nightmare you can imagine and not being able to wake up. It would also be easy to jump to conclusions and wonder why Ian never saw it, but depressed people are often embarrassed; they try to hide it, which is why so many family members never realize it exists.Eden has done a marvelous job of presenting some very difficult topics. She succinctly and effectively reminds us is to pay attention to those we love because they are very precious. Don't take anything for granted because if you are not constantly vigilant, your life can change in a second. I recommend this to those who like a story with angst, intensity, and hard-earned love. Thank you, Eden, for this poignant, well-written story. Originally published at Rainbow Book Reviews.