This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers.
How could their trip not be doomed from the start?
Conor, his dog, his wife, his son, his son’s mother, and his son’s mother’s boyfriend set off into the foothills of Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains, hauling the usual supplies plus the burden of old rancor and new jealousy. Soon they’re arguing over which path to take, and Conor is forced to see this makeshift family for what it is—something created after all else has failed. As he faces the disappointing reality of his entangled relationships, the group takes a wrong turn, and a moment of inattention leads to irreversible change. Resigned and struggling between regret and hope, Conor goes to terrible lengths to accept his new life.