Lighthouse Duology

Every child deserves to be loved. Every child deserves parents who love them. Yet, for as long as I can remember, I've harbored an insatiable craving for that one simple thing. Love. I was desperate for it. Through years of mistreatment and degradation, I longed for the affection I saw others receive. And I was willing to do anything to prove myself to the people I wanted it from-including going to war. Yet it was never enough. Nothing ever was. Except when it came to Laura, my high school sweetheart… and I pushed her away. Over and over again. Because how could I possibly deserve love from her-or anyone-if my own parents couldn't find me worthy of theirs? Maybe I'm just not worthy of anything. Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

My life had been built on a foundation of tragedies, but nothing could have prepared me for the worst one of all. The one that should have sent me over the edge. But I had made a vow to my wife to live… whether she was here or not. For ten years, I got by on a steady routine, and I would've been content to live the rest of my days just like that. But then, my father-the source of my childhood trauma-needed me as his caregiver. And I jumped at the chance to finally receive the love I'd craved in my youth. And when a mystery woman from the past stumbled back into my life, along with her three little boys… I jumped at the opportunity to convince her I was worth taking a chance on, too. If only I could be so lucky…