Bonfires
A three-part true story of a dying boy's search for hope.18 total reviews
Comment from Kahlani
William, thank you for sharing your poignant yet brave story about Anthony. At only nine years old, he is a hero in my eyes because of his positive mindset. I'm uncertain if this narrative is true, yet it has deeply touched my heart.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2025
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William, thank you for sharing your poignant yet brave story about Anthony. At only nine years old, he is a hero in my eyes because of his positive mindset. I'm uncertain if this narrative is true, yet it has deeply touched my heart.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2025
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His story and the narrative are all very accurate. I had a penchant of remembering what was said in a counseling session and my progress notes will filled with dialogue. It is from these prog. notes that most of my stories come from. They are all very accurate and all of them actually happened. Thanks for sharing that so that I could explain.
I will share the conclusion of his story next week with Parts II and III. -Bill.
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I look forward to reading them.
Comment from jacquelyn popp
This story is beautiful, wonderful, and inspiring, it truly touches the heart. From the first paragraph, I was drawn in by Anthony's strength and sensitivity, and by the compassionate voice of Dr. Bill. Your storytellling is thoughtful and deeply human, allowing the reader to witness not just the emotional weight of illness, but the healing power of being seen, heard, and understood. The moment Anthony shares his drawing of the crashing rocket is unforgettable, it captures the unspoken pain children often carry, and it broke my heart while reading this.
Your story was touching and moving, and it left me wanting to read more. The emotional rhythm flows beautifully from scene to scene, and every interaction feels genuine and impactful. This is not just a story about illness, it's about connection, courage, truth, and hope. Truly a great story, very well written and meaningful.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2025
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This story is beautiful, wonderful, and inspiring, it truly touches the heart. From the first paragraph, I was drawn in by Anthony's strength and sensitivity, and by the compassionate voice of Dr. Bill. Your storytellling is thoughtful and deeply human, allowing the reader to witness not just the emotional weight of illness, but the healing power of being seen, heard, and understood. The moment Anthony shares his drawing of the crashing rocket is unforgettable, it captures the unspoken pain children often carry, and it broke my heart while reading this.
Your story was touching and moving, and it left me wanting to read more. The emotional rhythm flows beautifully from scene to scene, and every interaction feels genuine and impactful. This is not just a story about illness, it's about connection, courage, truth, and hope. Truly a great story, very well written and meaningful.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2025
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Thank you, Jacquelyn, for a wonderful review. A writer often wants to know the affect and you nailed it. I will be publishing the conclusion of Anthony's story next week. When it's out, I will drop you a note. Happy Easter. -Bill
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The conclusion to Bonfires is now available. -Bill Stephenson
Comment from Jim Wile
This was a wonderful and inspiring story about a very brave young man and your sensitive way of communicating with him and his family, Dr. Bill. I loved how you got him to express his feelings through his artwork. It seemed like the perfect vehicle for him and his family to be able to open up about the feelings and emotions they were all experiencing.
What a perceptive young man Anthony was. It's a shame he carried such guilt around with him, but you were wise enough to get him and his family to talk about it together, with everything out in the open. It's a challenging job you have, but you perform it well. And write well about it too.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2025
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This was a wonderful and inspiring story about a very brave young man and your sensitive way of communicating with him and his family, Dr. Bill. I loved how you got him to express his feelings through his artwork. It seemed like the perfect vehicle for him and his family to be able to open up about the feelings and emotions they were all experiencing.
What a perceptive young man Anthony was. It's a shame he carried such guilt around with him, but you were wise enough to get him and his family to talk about it together, with everything out in the open. It's a challenging job you have, but you perform it well. And write well about it too.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2025
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Thank you, Jim, for the review and your compliments. My career was difficult to say the least, but incredibly rewarding. More than 400 (mostly young people) died while receiving my care.
I will publish the conclusion of Anthony's story next week. i will let you know when it's out. -Bill
The conclusion to Bonfires is now available.
Comment from Marilyn Hamilton
What a beautiful story. I wish I had a six left for you. I have lived with and cared for someone with a similar condition and once they got past the rockets crashing and we all were able to talk it turned to be a most wonderful experience. Wonderful is a hard word for people to understand in this circumstance but once you live it you get it. Thanks for sharing
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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What a beautiful story. I wish I had a six left for you. I have lived with and cared for someone with a similar condition and once they got past the rockets crashing and we all were able to talk it turned to be a most wonderful experience. Wonderful is a hard word for people to understand in this circumstance but once you live it you get it. Thanks for sharing
Comment Written 16-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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I will publish this story's conclusion next week. Thanks for your very sensitive review. -Bill
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The conclusion to Bonfires is now available. -Bill Stephenson
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thank you. i will read it tomorrow.
Comment from BethShelby
This sounds like a good way to approach and terminal illness and you describe your connection and manner of dealing with this challenge well. Cancer has to be a lot for a nine-year-old to deal with. He seems to have a good grasp of the reason to talk about his illness. Drawing together is a wonderful way to get out what needs to be said.
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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This sounds like a good way to approach and terminal illness and you describe your connection and manner of dealing with this challenge well. Cancer has to be a lot for a nine-year-old to deal with. He seems to have a good grasp of the reason to talk about his illness. Drawing together is a wonderful way to get out what needs to be said.
Comment Written 16-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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He was an exceptional case. Anthony taught me a lot about working with kids his age. I will publish the conclusion of his story next week. Thanks for your review. -Bill
Comment from oliver818
This is just part 1 and already I want to read more. The story is powerful and already touching and the characters feel real. I look forward to reading more! Thanks for posting this and have a great day.
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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This is just part 1 and already I want to read more. The story is powerful and already touching and the characters feel real. I look forward to reading more! Thanks for posting this and have a great day.
Comment Written 16-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2025
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I will publish the last two chapters next week. Thanks for the review. -Bill
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The conclusion to Bonfires is now available. -Bill
Comment from Karen Cherry
I would have been a puddle. How in the world did you get so strong that you could carry this? I imagine it could subsume you. How did you maintain relationships surrounded by such pain and loss? You write well. Karen
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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I would have been a puddle. How in the world did you get so strong that you could carry this? I imagine it could subsume you. How did you maintain relationships surrounded by such pain and loss? You write well. Karen
Comment Written 15-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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Karen, there were consequences in my significant relationhips. For example, my children knew that whenever I wasn't there for their play or game or celebration, it was because I was with a dying child or adolescent. They were often jealous of these children. They eventually worked it out but it cost us dearly. -Bill
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Yes, I could not ever come second to a job. When we were very young my first husband said he was thinking of joining the service. I said he could do whatever he wanted after the divorce. :-)
Comment from patcelaw
This is a marvelous story about Anthony and I very much appreciated. The work that you did with this young man and helping him. Sometimes our best thoughts come out and the things that we draw are the words that we speak and it seems like Anthony was able to draw some things that really meant Some important things to him. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the story. May you have a wonderful day and a terrific week.
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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This is a marvelous story about Anthony and I very much appreciated. The work that you did with this young man and helping him. Sometimes our best thoughts come out and the things that we draw are the words that we speak and it seems like Anthony was able to draw some things that really meant Some important things to him. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the story. May you have a wonderful day and a terrific week.
Comment Written 15-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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I will put Parts II and III into one presentation next week. Thanks for the review. -Bill
Comment from Tim Margetts
This is deeply human and beautifully paced, William, told with compassion, restraint, and real emotional clarity.
What struck me most was the organic way the bond forms between Dr. Bill and Anthony-not forced, not sentimental, just earned. The use of drawing as a medium for expression feels so natural here, especially for a child navigating something unspeakably large.
Anthony's rocket drawing is heartbreaking, not just in its imagery but in the guilt it reveals-how he sees himself not just as suffering, but as a source of his family's pain. That moment of weeping is devastating in its honesty.
And then the shift-from crashing rockets to sunrises-is handled with a subtle grace that avoids cliché. The final image of birds clustered near a rising sun is perfect: hopeful, tethered to place, and utterly unforced.
A story that doesn't preach about hope or healing-but shows it, in crayon and silence.
Tim
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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This is deeply human and beautifully paced, William, told with compassion, restraint, and real emotional clarity.
What struck me most was the organic way the bond forms between Dr. Bill and Anthony-not forced, not sentimental, just earned. The use of drawing as a medium for expression feels so natural here, especially for a child navigating something unspeakably large.
Anthony's rocket drawing is heartbreaking, not just in its imagery but in the guilt it reveals-how he sees himself not just as suffering, but as a source of his family's pain. That moment of weeping is devastating in its honesty.
And then the shift-from crashing rockets to sunrises-is handled with a subtle grace that avoids cliché. The final image of birds clustered near a rising sun is perfect: hopeful, tethered to place, and utterly unforced.
A story that doesn't preach about hope or healing-but shows it, in crayon and silence.
Tim
Comment Written 15-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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Tim, I am so grateful for this remarkable review. Thank you for the six but you get one too. You deserve a nomination because you really caught the essence of Anthony's personhood. Thanks. -Bill
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The conclusion to Bonfires is now available. -Bill
Comment from Charlotte Morse
A very moving piece of non-fiction writing indeed. Beautifully written and paced - I very much look forward to the next two parts.
You sound like an amazing councelor!
Charlotte
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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A very moving piece of non-fiction writing indeed. Beautifully written and paced - I very much look forward to the next two parts.
You sound like an amazing councelor!
Charlotte
Comment Written 15-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2025
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Thank you, Charlotte, for this review. I will publish Parts II and III next week.
-Bill
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You're very welcome Bill, I look forward to reading them.
Charlotte
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The conclusion of Bonfires is now available.
