All Good Things Must Come to an End

February 1, 2026

Hey Everyone!

I want to thank those of you who’ve followed my blog series on Unbound. As I’ve said before, I’ll never get bored talking about this book—it holds a permanent place in my heart. Not only was it my debut, but it marked the beginning of my writing journey, and it will always be a part of me.

That said, the time has come to wrap up this chapter and make space for new conversations—centered around my other books, future insights, and some lighter (and fun!) discussions as well.

So in this final post about Unbound, I’m sharing my personal reflections on five remaining key scenes that are especially close to me—both emotionally and in how they connect to real moments in my life.

And naturally, spoiler alert ahead for those who haven’t yet read the book.

1. The Hallway Confrontation — Andy & Noah

This scene, where Andy is passing through the dorm and sees a confrontation between his best friend Noah and a fellow airman, Dawson, represents Andy’s greatest heartbreak, even more than his experience with Bobby.

With Bobby, there was still a lasting friendship, and while romantic love wasn’t possible, Andy valued that connection deeply. With Noah, however, it was different. Andy fell for him in all the ways that mattered, but unlike with Bobby, he didn’t want to assume anything and never pursued his feelings.

When Andy discovers that Noah is gay too, and that both of them had been hiding their truths, the realization devastates him. The thought that they could have supported one another, maybe even been together, becomes a painful what if. But Andy never gets the chance. Noah retreats inward and ultimately transfers off the base.

In real life? Noah was very real. Same height, same build, attractive, genuinely kind, with a great personality. We worked together, shared things in common, and got along well. The confrontation in the hallway happened almost exactly as I wrote it—only the dialogue was slightly fictionalized for dramatic clarity. Dawson’s allegations, Noah’s reaction—it all happened.

Afterward, Noah grew distant, much like in the book. By the time I was ready to talk to him, he was gone. Over the years, I’ve thought of him often—hoping he found peace, love, and the courage to live openly. And while I once wondered what might have been, I now believe what I’ve always come back to: everything happens for a reason.

2. The Phone Call from Daniel

In the book, this scene closely follows the heartbreak with Noah, serving as a new emotional upheaval for Andy. Daniel calls to tell Andy that he and Elaine are separating. That call really happened, exactly as written, right down to the dialogue. It’s burned in my memory.

The most shocking part? Hearing my father’s voice on the line. He never called me. He usually spoke to me through my mother. The flood of emotions that hit Andy in the scene—confusion, hurt, guarded hope—mirrored my own exactly. Even Andy’s follow-up conversation with Peter came straight from my real life.

In reality, this call from Daniel came a few months after the events with Noah, but emotionally, they were still interwined. Both moments marked seismic shifts in Andy’s (and my) internal world.

3. The Confrontation with Daniel

This was one of the most cathartic scenes to write. When Andy visits Daniel at his apartment and finally confronts him about the abuse and control he endured growing up, it’s a pivotal moment in the story—and in his healing.

While the setting and timeline were adjusted for the sake of narrative flow, the essence of this scene is deeply true. I was the only one of my siblings who ever had the opportunity to have this kind of conversation with our father.

In real life, it happened in my apartment in Germany. My dad visited me while traveling in Europe shortly before he passed away. The dialogue in the book is fictionalized to fit the structure of the scene, but the core of the discussion—the vulnerability, the emotional weight, the long-overdue confrontation—was very real.

4. Daniel’s Death

One of the most emotional scenes in Unbound is also one of the most faithfully rendered. Everything about Daniel’s death—Andy’s emergency return home, the weeks spent by Daniel’s side, his passing, and the aftermath—all happened. Even the call from the doctor, including the specific words spoken, were taken directly from memory.

The only fictionalized detail? In the book, Andy’s brother Peter is home when Andy receives the news. In real life, my brother was at work, and I had to call him to break the news. I chose to adjust that part of the scene for narrative cohesion and emotional pacing.

5. Andy & Jason — The Coming Out

The scenes between Andy and Jason—from their first on-line meeting to their long drive from Phoenix to Omaha—are almost entirely real. While I adjusted some settings and dialogue for storytelling purposes, the heart of their relationship is accurate. And naturally, the climactic coming out scene is drawn directly from my life.

I tried to describe Andy’s emotional state—the fear, the clarity, the overwhelming sense of stepping into truth—as vividly and honestly as I could. I lived it, and I wanted to do it justice on the page.

Andy’s email to his commander is the exact email I sent mine. The meeting with his commander and Franklin happened just as described. Even the quiet, intimate moment in the hallway with Franklin happened exactly that way. The only change was the setting. The real events occurred while I was on temporary duty at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. But to avoid adding an entirely new layer to the story, I relocated the scene while keeping the timeline intact.

Final thoughts:

So there you have it—the last five key scenes from Unbound and the real-life truths behind them. This story will always be the most important thing I’ve ever written, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

Writing Unbound was a dream come true. Yes, there were regrets and resentments from my past, not to mention tough hurdles, but there was also life lessons and silent strengths that carried me through. This story helped me own my truth. It gave voice to what once lived in silence.

As I said in the preface: For anyone who has ever felt trapped, unseen, or afraid to embrace their truth—this book is for you. And if my story reaches and helps even one person live the life they were meant to live…then every word was worth it.

Thank you, truly, for joining me on this incredible journey. Until next time—take care of yourselves and each other.

— Chris