The two men opened the bags and pulled something out wrapped in tissue paper.
Theo turned the object over in his hands, tracing an edge with his fingers, and furrowed his brow. “Is this—”
Charlie, still beaming, jumped up. “It is!”
Theo held up the gift. It was a framed photograph of the kids standing in front of the cottage we rented each summer at Walloon Lake. A picture of a happy time, an innocent time, taken two summers before. I looked closer at the photo and the frame, a clear glass rectangle with a blue tint to it, and recognition drew tears to my eyes. It was a salvage piece, formed from Charlie’s favorite cereal bowl—the one that had broken suddenly, the one I thought was still waiting to be repurposed.
There’d been enough scraps of the bowl to go around twice, for Andrew held a similar frame with a photo of his children and mine, standing at the Steepled Tree, and my heart clenched. I picked up the frame, marveling again at the new structure that had been created from something completely broken. Somehow, Charlie had managed to fit the pieces of blue glass together almost seamlessly, as if the bowl knew it had to transform so it could live. Those pieces had survived a death and been reborn and no one, unless they were privy to the information surrounding the incident, would have known any better.
I blinked away tears of contentment and reached for Charlie’s hand, pressing it to my lips. Theo was right: we’d be okay.
The End
Author’s Note
Theo Lancaster isn’t a real person. He’s based on hours of research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression as well as information freely given from friends and family who have firsthand experience with PTSD. But he could be real. He could be your friend, your neighbor, your grandson, your brother. He could be your spouse. He could be you.
Prevalence rates of PTSD in service members returning from combat vary by service era. Studies have shown the percentage to range from 11 percent to as high as 30 percent. But PTSD is not a condition exclusive to the military, and it can happen to anyone. In fact, the National Center for PTSD estimates the number of people with PTSD in the United States to be about eight million.
Treatments for PTSD can work, but it’s up to the those with PTSD or family and friends to pursue treatment. And many people who have PTSD do not seek the support they need. Often, that’s because the person living with PTSD is too ashamed to admit they need help, or loved ones might not recognize all the signs, or they may be afraid to speak up. But that’s where we all can help. By understanding what PTSD is and raising awareness of it, we can help minimize its devastating effects on everyone.
If you think you’re suffering from PTSD or know of someone who might be, say something. You’ll be glad you did.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
National Center for PTSD: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—ptsd.va.gov (1-800-273-TALK); veterans press 1 or text 838255
Coaching Into Care: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—mirecc.va.gov/coaching (1-888-823-7458)
Make the Connection: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—maketheconnection.net
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—samhsa.gov
(1-800-662-HELP)
Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline—suicidepreventionlifeline.org
(1-800-273-TALK)
IMAlive—imalive.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)—afsp.org
Suicide Prevention Resource Center—sprc.org
Related Reading
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Down Range: To Iraq and Back by Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. & Chuck Dean
Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital by Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft
Acknowledgments
This story started in June 2012 as a wisp of an idea, and it took a circuitous route to become the book it is today. Many thanks to the team at Black Rose Writing for giving my story a home and making my dream come true. And while words are not enough to express my gratitude for everyone who played a role in shaping this story, they will have to do.
The Plot Sisters: Cindy Cremeans, Ruthann Kain, Jen Messaros, Traci Ison Schafer, and Jude Walsh. You helped bring this story to life, and I am convinced fate had a hand in our meeting.
The early, middle, and late readers; those who provided resources, information, and character inspiration; and overall supporters of my dream: Sarah Anderson, Julie Ballin Patton, Tara Consolino, Gina Consolino-Barsotti, Sandra Doninger, Diane Dougherty, Erin Flanagan, Stefanie Griffin, Awad Halabi, Barbara Halabi, S.B. House, Janet Irvin, Jenny Jaeckel, Katrina Kittle, Andrea Kuperman, Meg Lammers, Laurel Leigh, Dan Loofboro, Kelsey Madges, Fred Marion, Darren McGarvey, Brooke Medlin, Emmanuel Nelson, Amy Galloway Roma, Scott Ross, Bob Schoeni, Gretchen Schoeni, Krista Sheehan, Tess Sherick, Sharon Short, Carrie Taylor, Penny Timmer, Anne Valente, and Father Pat Welsh. Your willingness to answer questions, give feedback, cheerlead when necessary, and provide unwavering inspiration and encouragement propelled me forward each day.
The writing communities: Antioch Writers’ Workshop, Literary Mama, Miami Valley Writers Group, 10 Minute Novelists, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Word’s Worth Writing Connections. The education I received from you is invaluable, and I can only hope I’ll pass as much information to other writers as you do to me.
My mom and dad: Each day of my life, I learn something new from you. Thanks for passing on the love of reading (and writing) to me.
All the wonderful fur companions, past and present: Arnold, Benedict, Ferdinand, Heathcliff, Lucy, Patty, and Shadow. Your quiet company in the early morning hours means more than you’ll ever understand.
My children: Zoe, Talia, Aaron, and Melina. There’s no way this book would have made it to print without the support of these unique and always-inspiring people. Remember you can reach for your dreams and attain them, and it’s never too late to start on a new dream.
My husband, Tim: Who knew a meeting at Elbel Field would turn into such an adventure? Knowing you believed in me even when I didn’t made all the difference. Thank you.
About the Author
Christina Consolino is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in multiple online and print outlets. Her debut novel, Rewrite the Stars, was named one of ten finalists for the Ohio Writers’ Association Great Novel Contest 2020. She serves as senior editor at the online journal Literary Mama, freelance edits both fiction and nonfiction, and teaches writing classes at Word’s Worth Writing Center. Christina lives in Kettering, Ohio, with her family and pets.
To keep up-to-date with the latest news, check out her website at www.christinaconsolino.com or follow her on social media.
Note from the Author
Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed Rewrite the Stars, please leave a review online—anywhere you are able. Even if it’s just a sentence or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Christina Consolino
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