Unbound: A Journey of Love

Hey Everyone—welcome back!

I’m glad to continue our ongoing discussion about Unbound. As promised, I’m wrapping up this mini blog series by reflecting on the final and most meaningful theme of the book: love.

When I began writing Unbound, I knew the story would explore identity, discovery, and freedom—but at its core, it’s also a love story. Not just romantic love, but love as a deep emotional truth—something hard-earned, transformative, and human.

In the early chapters, Andy’s longing—rooted in his repressed sexuality—first emerges as curiosity, which he initially experiences in a physical way. For years, his desire was centered on the sexual part of his identity, and when that part finally awakened, he realized there was so much more to who he was than attraction alone.

I tried to show this growth through Andy’s casual relationship with Adam, a fellow airman. That relationship lacked any real emotional foundation. Adam was essentially a “friend with benefits,” and while their connection confirmed Andy’s attraction to men, it left him feeling unfulfilled. There was no intimacy beyond the surface. No loyalty and no depth.

But then Jason came along—and everything changed.

Their relationship, born through phone calls and distance, began as an emotional connection. Without the option for physical closeness, Andy and Jason built something rooted in vulnerability, honesty, and shared hope. By the time they finally met in person months later, their bond was already cemented. Their love had grown not in the body, but in the heart. And that’s how Andy knew—not just that Jason was “the right guy,” but that he was the guy.

Andy’s ache for Jason during their separation—the ache of missing someone you truly love—was unlike anything he’d ever felt. He knew, long before their first intimate encounter, that he was already in love.

I worked hard to make that emotional dynamic clear in the book because it was the truest thing Andy had ever experienced. And honestly? As simple and storybook as the ending may seem, it’s how my life unfolded at that time. I’ll share more about which scenes were real and which were fictionalized in future posts (spoiler alerts included), but for now, I’ll simply say this:

When it comes to Andy and Jason, what you read in Unbound was real. While I crafted certain moments to support the arc of the story, their relationship—its heart and truth—was not invented.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have experienced love in its purest form: first through emotional connection, and then through physical expression. And I hope I did justice to that journey on the page.

That wraps up our exploration of the three core themes of Unbound: escape, identity, and love. I’ll be back next month as we dive into specific scenes and characters (with spoiler warnings for those still reading!).

Thanks for being part of this journey with me.

— Chris