{"id":21,"date":"2025-05-03T19:46:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T19:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alonzohays.com\/?page_id=21"},"modified":"2025-05-06T21:29:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T21:29:21","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alonzohays.com\/index.php\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\tAlonzo Hays<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n

1 week ago <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Alonzo<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tHours passed and the sun started to set. The fire had burned low. Hazel had gone to finish her mending. Daniel stood outside by the truck, giving them time. Clara wrapped her scarf slowly, her fingers slightly stiff from the warmth she\u2019d grown used to in the Allen kitchen. The chill would find her again soon, but not yet. Edgar leaned against the door frame, his face half-lit by the glow of the hallway lamp, the bruising along his jaw beginning to darken. He looked steadier now. Worn, yes, but rooted. \u201cI don\u2019t know what happens tomorrow,\u201d he said softly. She nodded. \u201cNeither do I.\u201d \u201cBut I know I\u2019ll be at your side... If you want me to be.\u201d Clara stepped closer. She reached out, gently adjusting the collar of his shirt. It was a quiet touch that lingered, her fingertips brushing the curve of his collarbone. \u201cI want you to be,\u201d she said. He swallowed. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to come after me.\u201d he said again. Her eyes lifted to his. \u201cI couldn\u2019t not.\u201d And that was the truth of it. Not heroism or duty. Something more like a tether. He reached for her hand, carefully, as though asking permission even now. She gave it. Their fingers twined. In the hush between them, he leaned forward and kissed her. It wasn\u2019t rushed or fiery. It was soft and warm and full of everything that had nearly broken them but hadn\u2019t. When they pulled apart, Clara\u2019s breath caught slightly. Not from her lungs but from the wonder of it. Outside, Daniel cleared his throat just enough for them to hear. Clara smiled, faintly. \u201cThat\u2019s my cue.\u201d Edgar opened the door for her. She stepped through. Before she reached the truck, Clara looked back. He was still there, watching her like something precious. Something he believed in. She held his gaze and then the door closed.MILL CREEK is available now: a.co\/d\/0d4cLXNm<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a>books<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a> #yaromancebooks<\/a> #writing<\/a>community<\/a> #writing<\/a> #selfpublishing<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t... See More<\/span>See Less<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tView on Facebook<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Linked In<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare by Email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAlonzo Hays<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n

1 week ago <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Alonzo<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tOn my way to the rockies to get some fresh air and a little inspiration for Whispers in Silence's follow up. Anyone want to try and guess the title?\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t... See More<\/span>See Less<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tView on Facebook<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Linked In<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare by Email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAlonzo Hays<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n

1 week ago <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Alonzo<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tGill appeared beside them, breathless, holding his phone low in his hand, jaw clenched. \u201cDon\u2019t panic,\u201d he said. \u201cBut you\u2019re going to want to see this.\u201d He handed the phone to Edgar.\u201cDude, you can\u2019t just lead with don\u2019t panic\u2026\u201d Edgar said before looking to the screen. Clara leaned in. The screen showed a video, blurry but unmistakable. It was them. The diner. The dance. Clara\u2019s hand on Edgar\u2019s chest, his palm at her waist. The spin. The smiles. The way her hair caught the light when she laughed. There was no audio. None was needed. Overlaid at the bottom was a caption in bold, all caps: THE REDEMPTION PROJECT. HOLY GIRL & HER EX-CON.Clara stepped back, her breath catching.Edgar stared at the screen. \u201cWho\u2014?\u201d\u201cZeke,\u201d Gill said, grim.\u201cHe posted this?\u201d\u201cNo. But he definitely gave the order. Someone else posted it through a burner. It\u2019s already getting passed around.\u201dClara could feel her lungs tightening. Not from her condition, but from shame. Rage. Exposure. It felt violating.Edgar moved to her. \u201cClara\u2014\u201dShe shook her head, fast. \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201dGretta had seen now too, peering over Gill\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThat snake,\u201d she hissed.More laughter rippled down the hallway. More eyes. More staring. Clara turned. She walked at first but as tears started to sting her eyes, she ran. Down the corridor, past the lockers, past the staring eyes, into the old east wing where the lights buzzed faintly overhead and no one came unless they had a reason. Her oxygen hissed softly with every breath. Her hands trembled. Her vision blurred. She reached the door to the unused choir room, pushed it open, and shut it behind her with a click. Silence. Finally. Only the muffled sound of the world beyond it: the cruel chorus of whispers, of that video moving like wildfire through screens and minds and mouths. She pressed her back against the door. For a moment, the weight crushed her.MILL CREEK is available now: a.co\/d\/08PSNNNU<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a>books<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a> #yaromancebooks<\/a> #writing<\/a>community<\/a> #writing<\/a> #selfpublishing<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t... See More<\/span>See Less<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Linked In<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare by Email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAlonzo Hays<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n

2 weeks ago <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Alonzo<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tThe Allen farmhouse was still when Edgar stepped through the door. Hazel had long since retired to her room. The kettle sat cold on the stove, a faint scent of peppermint lingering in the air. The old floor creaked under his boots as he crossed to hang up his coat. In the corner of the living room Daniel sat in his worn chair, bootlaces loose, one hand resting on the armrest the other wrapped around a chipped mug. He didn\u2019t look up when Edgar walked in. \u201cBack late,\u201d he said.Edgar nodded, easing into the chair across from him. \u201cLost track of time.\u201d \u201cUh huh.\u201d Silence settled between them. Daniel took a slow sip, then said without inflection, \u201cSo. You asked him.\u201d It wasn\u2019t a question. Edgar glanced up. \u201cHow\u2019d you know?\u201d Daniel raised an eyebrow. \u201cI thought it was pretty obvious, staying for dinner and all.\u201d Edgar rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. \u201cYeah. I asked.\u201d \u201cAnd?\u201d \u201cHe said yes.\u201d Daniel gave a slow, quiet nod. \u201cGood.\u201d That was all he said. Yet, Edgar felt it land somewhere deep. They sat that way for a few minutes. No advice. No lecture. Just the sound of the fire crackling, and the creak of the house settling around them like old bones easing into bed. Then Daniel shifted slightly. \u201cYou know what you\u2019re doing?\u201d Edgar exhaled through his nose. \u201cNo.\u201d Daniel gave a short grunt that might have been a laugh. \u201cGood. Means you\u2019ll take it seriously.\u201d Edgar looked over. \u201cShe\u2019s different.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s not different,\u201d Daniel said, voice low. \u201cShe\u2019s real. That\u2019s why you feel it so much.\u201d Edgar nodded. After a pause, Daniel added, \u201cYou break her heart, I\u2019ll skin you.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s fair.\u201dMILL CREEK is available now: a.co\/d\/040kSy7P<\/a>#kindleunlimited<\/a> #yaromancebooks<\/a> #writing<\/a>community<\/a> #writing<\/a> #selfpublishing<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t... See More<\/span>See Less<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Linked In<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare by Email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAlonzo Hays<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n

2 weeks ago <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Alonzo<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tThe sun was nearly gone, the sky fading to ash and silver. The fields rolled out quiet before them, and the lantern by the door flickered faintly in the wind. Malik leaned against the porch rail, arms folded. Edgar stood with his hands in his coat pockets, trying to still the nerves gathering behind his ribs. \u201cYou\u2019ve been here many Saturdays,\u201d Malik said. \u201cChopping wood. Carrying feed.\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve also been walking beside my daughter.\u201d Edgar nodded. \u201cYes, sir.\u201d Malik turned his head fully. \u201cAnd now?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m asking,\u201d Edgar said. \u201cFormally. To court her. With your permission.\u201d Malik was quiet a long moment. Then he said, \u201cI know how English boys are.\u201d Edgar stiffened. \u201cI\u2019m not\u2014\u201d \u201cThey act sweet.\u201d Malik interrupted, \u201cWork hard. Then one day they get bored. Or worse, entitled.\u201d Edgar\u2019s voice was steady. \u201cThat\u2019s not me.\u201d \u201cShe is not a girl for passing fancy,\u201d Malik said. \u201cShe is not your reward. She is not your second chance. She is my daughter.\u201dMILL CREEK is available now: a.co\/d\/0iyZO5kd<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a>books<\/a> #kindleunlimited<\/a> #yaromancebooks<\/a> #writing<\/a>community<\/a> #writing<\/a> #selfpublishing<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t... See More<\/span>See Less<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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