Publisher's Synopsis
2020. 2021. These past two years have shaken our generation. History has been unfolding around us. World leaders have been making decisions that will define our generation and our children's generation yet to come. And then, somewhere in the middle of all this, are regular people - just like you and me. There are bills to pay, families to feed, and, if we're lucky, jobs to be done. Some of our decisions are pivotal and monumental, while others are mundane and boring. Yet every day, we wake up and make decisions, and time keeps going.
Our Hearts Together is a powerful collection of short stories that will provide you with a snapshot of history-a moment, frozen in time. Over 50 men and women from diverse backgrounds have opened their doors to let you in. This is your opportunity to bear witness to their struggles, share in their wins, mourn in their losses, and see how they are navigating these unprecedented times. So come, join us on this journey, and see which stories speak to your heart. Because we are not defeated or dismayed. We stand strong together, in love, in community, our hearts together. We will prevail.
_________________________________________To our children,
This is for you, as you move forward in a society that brings communities and nationalities together in the spirit of love. We are not defeated or dismayed by the images transmitted through the media that stand before us. We know that there is a more excellent way. Humility is the beginning. The ending is having an anchored belief system in a supreme being that leads us to pure thoughts, love, understanding, and peace. And by faith, we declare, this is your guiding light. Our legacy, your future, our hearts - together._________________________________________These stories were collected over the course of one year: May 2020 to April 2021. What a year! As we close in on our publication date, we have taken the time to re-read these stories and reflect on the lives of those within. Each story is so special, yet they capture only one small sliver, one small glimpse of a life. An hour, a day, a month, a year later - these individuals could have been telling a completely different story. Even our own stories have changed dramatically during this time. Funerals. Births. Surgeries. Sicknesses. Career moves. Marriages. Divorces. It's humbling to think about. We are definitely not the same people that we were at the beginning of 2020. When we re-read these stories and re-live the conversations we had during the process, it makes us wonder. We wonder how each of these individuals are doing now, how their lives are going, what they're up to.
We appreciate you taking the time to pick up this book and give it a chance. You might not be moved by every story, and you might not be able to relate to every person. However, our greatest hope is that you will at least find a handful of stories that inspire you and your path forward.
With warmest regards,
Jacqueline Dornak & Dr. Lakeisha Menifee
