Catching Memories

"He'd had a good childhood, despite being sometimes paralyzed with fear he'd give himself away. But a lot was forgotten, and a lot of memories of those days had faded from his father's mind, and probably, one day, would disappear from his, too. Blake made a wish that somehow those memories would never leave, that he might manage to keep them safe and pass them on to the ones to come. It troubled him that all the living we do, all the experiences we have, vanish and cease to exist the moment we close our eyes for the last time."This story is fiction, but is based on the author's father having owned a horse in his youth. He was gifted to his grandfather by a friend who was a Chief in the Seminole Tribe.Blake's father is fading away, slipping further into the grasp of Alzheimer's with each passing day. Wanting to create lasting memories for himself before his father is consumed by the disease, Blake embarks on a road trip to uncover the fate of his father's beloved childhood horse, the golden palomino named Chief.As they journey from the east coast of America to the west, Blake realizes that the butterflies he sees are the keepers of memories of those near to death, and they can transfer those memories to others.Blake and his father encounter people along the way, including a drag queen named Seth who shares Blake's ability to see the butterflies. Seth joins them on their quest, and as they delve deeper into the mystery of Chief's fate, with Seth's help, Blake begins to understand the true power of his abilities.Blake and Seth find themselves draw closer together, and Blake realizes he is ready to love again,while Seth finds in Blake the strength to leave a dangerous and destructive relationship.Blake's father passes away after watching a movie featuring Chief, leaving Blake to inherit a fortune and start a new life in California. With Seth again by his side, he forges a path toward happiness, and closure from a terrible tragedy in his past.If you enjoy tales of the supernatural and stories of love, life, death and forgiveness, "Catching Memories" is a must-read; you may never look at a butterfly the same way again.