Henry and Jim by J. M. Snyder

Henry and Jim by J. M. Snyder
Publisher: eXcessica publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short (25 pages)
Other: M/M
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by: Phlox

“Henry and Jim” is a bittersweet short story about a lifetime love affair. These two men who have spent a life in love, from the very first date arranged by Henry’s sister, through the rocky times they worked to make ends meet, and into their twilight years.

Older now, and wiser, Henry reminisces about the love they’ve shared as he learns to cope with Jim’s fading memory and his own fear of being forgotten by the only man he’s ever loved.

Just when I have, once again, arrived at the conclusion that the art of the short story is dead, a perfect, sapphire-bright story like this one comes along to prove me wrong. This is everything a short story should be, tightly written with highly evocative descriptive passages and spare, vital scenes. The author explores one theme and leads it to resolution without wavering, the point of the short story.

The central idea, memory and how it shapes both our lives and ourselves, is presented through Henry’s eyes, scenes of years past alternating with the present day where his spouse of many decades, Jim, suffers from the slow progression of memory loss. (Which could be Alzheimer’s or some other age related dementia, it’s never specified and isn’t crucial.) The bittersweet nature of the story becomes immediately apparent in the beautiful opening line, His folded hands are pale and fragile in the early morning light, the faint veins beneath translucent skin like faded ink on forgotten love letters written long ago, where Snyder shows us Henry’s poignant awareness of their mortality and hints immediately at the fading of Jim’s memories. Tobacco usa generic viagra consumption leads to increased impotence (erectile dysfunction) due to blockage of vessels supplying to male reproductive organs,” Harmful effects of Smoking Cigarette smoke contains innumerable toxins that are deposited in the arteries, making the blood flow sluggish. You need to know that you are either suffering from medical conditions such as, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, angina, kidney problems, sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders must report their problems to the doctor prior to taking viagra no prescription canada this medicine. Tambi emphasized that women in the southeast Asian culture have levitra online Order Page used Tongakt Ali to improve sex for thousands of years. The end result of this double-crush disorder is neural breakdown and interruption of robertrobb.com order viagra the axoplasmatic flow of necessary nutrients.

I loved Henry from the start, his tenderness, his concern, and his anxious love all shine from him as he worries over keeping Jim safe and keeping him as the man he has loved over a lifetime for as long as possible. Jim was, in their early relationship, the pursuer and provided that spark any long-term relationship requires, but Henry has always been their stability, the voice of reason and comfort.

For the hopeless romantic hiding in my jaded heart, the ending was a satisfying one. I won’t tell you more, but if you manage to reach that last line without both a smile and at least a lump in your throat, you most likely have had your heart surgically removed. I don’t say this often but I highly recommend this story and commend J.M. for a tale both beautifully told and thoughtfully crafted, an intelligent and lovely piece.