My life has been a series of broken promises and shattered hopes. At fifteen, I've been through more than most people could handle—abuse, neglect, and the haunting memory of my father's fentanyl overdose. Every place I've called home has been just another lie, another echo of despair. Now I'm at Bright Future Group Home, and I can't help but be cynical. Safety and belonging? Sure. But then I meet Gabriel Lopez. He's kind, patient, and he sees something in me that I thought was long gone. Falling for him is unexpected, but it's the first time I've felt something real, something worth holding onto. But this place has its own shadows. Derrick Mason, another resident, has dark secrets that threaten to drag me back into the abyss. School is a daily battle, and the group home is a minefield. The art room becomes my sanctuary, where I can escape into my drawings, and the garden offers a brief respite from the chaos. My struggles are more than just about finding a place to belong. I grapple with the abuse I've suffered, the cultural roots I feel detached from, and the fact that I'm gay in a world that hasn't been kind. The echoes of my past are always there, reminding me of every broken promise and every ounce of pain. "Echoes" is my story—a fight against the despair that clings to me, a journey to find trust and love in the midst of chaos. Gabriel is my anchor, but Derrick's secrets and my own fears are powerful forces. Can I overcome the shadows of my past and find a future worth fighting for? Join me on this raw and powerful journey through the echoes of my life, where love, pain, and the search for belonging intertwine. This isn't just about surviving—it's about finding the strength to truly live.

When unmourned experiences of helplessness and disavowed desires turn into a passive fatalism, people stop hoping for the best and fear the worst, despairing that the real world has anything good to offer. This can lead individuals to memorialize past sufferings through psychological symptoms and compulsive repetitions. Dr. Shabad discusses how patients, after many years of living a life limited by resentment, fear, and despair, can come to terms with their childhood experiences: a mother who can never be satisfied, a father who consistently buries his head in the newspaper. He explains how people can overcome hardships endured and losses suffered. The authentic spontaneous dialogue between therapist and patient provides the generosity and courage necessary to shed their now obsolete defenses and mourn what cannot be remedied or replaced. Rich clinical material demonstrates how mourning can bring about self-acceptance, and set individuals free to take responsibility for and live out their own personal truths. This is a deeply felt, and beautifully written tribute to the redemptive power of psychotherapy and to the regenerative capabilities in all human beings.

Dark gothic poetry reminiscent of Poe...written with a modern hand. Joshua Pavelsky is a true gothic poet and this first volume of his poems shows that.

In a distant future, the time-traveling historian, Elysia, found herself amidst the towering remnants of an advanced civilization long forgotten by the ebb and flow of time. She discovers a mysterious artifact that will transcended the boundaries of time itself.

"Dear Death, I'm Ready" is an intimate journey expressed through 101 poignant poems by a resilient 25-year-old soul grappling with depression. From the shadows depicted in 'In the Shadows,' this collection unveils the raw struggles and triumphs of the human spirit. Each verse is a mirror reflecting the author's vulnerability, inviting readers to find solace in shared struggles. These poems transcend mere words; they become a refuge, offering understanding and comfort to those navigating their own storms. 'Dear Death, I'm Ready' is not just a collection; it's a testament to the strength found in embracing one's struggles, a lyrical guide through the tumultuous waters of life. With courage, the author crafts each poem as a stepping stone, illuminating the profound beauty that emerges from the depths of despair. This collection, in its rhythmic cadence, extends an invitation to embrace the transformative power of shared humanity.

Sensate Haven is profoundly influenced by augmented reality and artificial intelligence, and it symbolizes and acts as an excellent example of technological progress. Nevertheless, there's a shadow—an unintended result of unbridled expansion—somewhere amid the glistening skyline. A digital turbulent strikes the city, revealing the murky side of networked progress. The Bodhisattvas, discovers a malevolent force that seeks revenge with a technological weapon of unimaginable power and threatens to annihilate their worlds. An unfathomable power threatens to destroy their worlds with a diabolical force that demands retribution. The menacing sound of hopelessness reverberates through Sensate Haven's broken urban landscapes, pressing the Bodhisattvas to discover the evil force's mysteries and avert the ultimate convergence—a pit of unending fear. The haunting chorus of despair echoes through misty woods and shattered cityscapes, challenging the Bodhisattvas to unravel the malevolent force's secrets and prevent the ultimate abyss of perpetual dread. The previously praised innovations are now upending the delicate balance between creation and chaos, from holographic illusions to virtual horrors. This is a compelling story about using code to play god. Will the shadows cast by its own advancements kill Sensate Haven, or can the hesitant hero face the nightmare and find a way to restore balance to a planet on the verge of technological chaos? Travel into the digital shadows, a future where creativity as well as ethics collide and where unintended consequences of technology disruption wreak havoc.

Nineteen contributors from the humanities and social sciences present essays exploring the myth of Narcissus, and the formation of theories based on this myth. Topics include the origin of the myth; variations of the myth; works of art inspired by the myth; the application of the myth to various social phenomena, literary works, and films; what the myth suggests about the relationship between self and others; and the transference of the myth from the individual level to the collective group. Spaas teaches French cultural studies at Kingston U. c. Book News Inc.