Cloth Napkins is a heartfelt story by first time author, Ray Leitschuh, who takes us back to a time when receiving an HIV diagnosis meant certain death. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the death of his friend, Ray finds himself compelled to finally make public a story he has only shared with a few individuals, a story of a promise kept between two young men as they prepare for their own deaths.
Both he and his friend, Kyle, were diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980’s and were each told to they had no more than two years to live. A chance meeting quickly united their kindred spirits in an intimate relationship, finding comfort in each other’s presence but wisely understanding the bond of a shared journey was not the same as being in love. Outliving their initial two-year expiration date, they continue to struggle with the realities of living while waiting to die. Ray struggles to find his way as the securities in his life crumbles away though he continues to enjoy relatively good health. Kyle, however must focus all his energy on his declining health as he vigorously fights to stay alive. He wants to be around for the cure. Eventually Kyle becomes ravished by the wasting effects of multiple opportunistic infections and fears blindness in his final days. Throughout all of this, Kyle’s mother watches, nurses, and mourns her son’s slow death.
The author takes us on an emotional and spiritual journey leading up to the final moment of a life. A journey about dying with dignity by taking control of the deathing process. A journey of a dying son who desperately wants to spare his loving mother from being alone with him when he dies. A mother struggling to let go of her child as he wastes away in front of her. Fearing her son will end his own life she struggles to reconcile this fate with her devout beliefs. Together the three of them manage to help him celebrate life as he prepares for death.
In memoriam to his friend all profits from this release will be donated to Friends for Life/Nancy Fletcher Food Pantry which provides food assistance to people living with HIV.
You can purchase an electronic version (Kindle) of the book here on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle/dp/B077G8F8NZ/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_eos_detail
