Trees, the Brotherhood Of

In an attempt to get in better shape, Matthew has taken to jogging in the woods behind his house with his two dogs. One morning he encounters a strange visitor to his woods: a boy, lost. He and his partner Fred never wanted kids, but Matthew forms a bond with the boy that he neglects to tell his partner about.

First published in Aeon SF, this is a short story about aging, selflessness, and compassion. Cover by Zone1Design.com.

Review:

“The protagonist and his partner are depicted with compassion and pathos, and not the over-the-top camp behavior many other authors use to depict gay characters. This, coupled with the neat backstory and polished prose, makes this a tale worth reading.” — Tangent Online