Adversity can teach as well as torment. It forces us to become introspective. It tests the length and breadth of our will, our inventive spirit, and our drive to thrive. It is the clay that shapes character.

With the hope of illuminating a thoughtful way forward, Bill Heitland shares nine short stories that offer a glimpse into the lives of diverse characters navigating their way through loss, health issues, heartache, separation, and much more. A father reunites with his estranged daughter with help from a running club whose members hail from India and the US. A handicapped boy wishing for a silver tongue finds a more golden gift on Christmas day. An individual learns that his brother's life, though fraught with complex issues, held redeemable value. A young man fearing his maturation process is being stunted pushes toward the threshold of adulthood amid a key rite of passage. A married couple coping with the loss of their daughter find a way to rekindle the ardent love that marked their courtship.

In this volume of short tales, individuals and families who must deal with tests of their strength of character find something rich-a light that translates into hope.