The Rustling of Leaves

By Dan Zayas

Greg Vaya is the narrator and a junior member of a complex, multigenerational family struggling with addiction, trauma, and the consequences of their choices. The story opens as Greg pushes his disabled cousin Gigi through icy streets to visit her brother Gabe in the hospital after an overdose. Through their journey and conversations with Aunt Maggie, we learn about the family's troubled dynamics, particularly the strained relationship between Greg's brother Victor and Gabe. A flashback reveals Victor's violent response to finding Gabe overdosed, highlighting how addiction has impacted multiple generations.

The narrative then shifts to explore other family members' stories, including Ronnie's grandfather's suicide and Lou's tumultuous custody battles with his ex-wife Heather. These interconnected tales weave a tapestry of generational trauma, as characters grapple with mental health issues, broken relationships, and the ripple effects of their actions. A powerful scene shows the narrator's friend Jay calling to pray for Jimi, who is struggling to maintain his sobriety, underscoring the role of faith and friendship in the characters' recovery journeys.

The story delves deeper into the psyches of the characters through dreamlike sequences, revealing Ronnie's past suicide attempt and the trauma that continues to shape his identity. Simultaneously, the chapter focusing on Lana and the narrator explores their toxic romantic relationship, marked by power struggles, manipulation, and unresolved desires. These intimate interactions showcase the characters' complex emotional landscapes and their inability to find lasting fulfillment.

The narrative then shifts to the Jasper Street house, which becomes a central character itself, hosting a revolving door of residents and visitors seeking shelter or their next fix. Through vivid descriptions of the house's layout and the interactions between its inhabitants, we witness the grip of addiction and poverty on this community. The story's focus on family dynamics intensifies as we learn of a shocking family secret: Victor, as a toddler, inadvertently caused the death of the narrator's baby brother, leading to Tony taking the blame and eventually turning to a life of crime.

As the story progresses, the consequences of the characters' choices become increasingly apparent. Tony's arrest and imprisonment have a profound impact on the family, with Bob, the narrator's uncle, exploiting Gigi's vulnerability and neglecting her care for his own gain. The chapter culminates in Bob's eventual removal from the house, though not without his attempts to extract a hefty financial sum for his 'services.'

The final chapter brings the narrative full circle, as Greg and Victor confront the family's darkest secrets at Tony's hospital bedside. The revelation about the baby brother's death and its aftermath sheds light on the family's troubled history, the cycle of criminality, and the moral ambiguity that permeates their lives. The story concludes with Tony receiving a harsh sentence, and Greg grappling with the difficulty of reconciling the good memories he has of Tony with the terrible things he has done, including dealing a fatal dose to a pregnant woman. The past exists in another time, and some distances are too far to cross without being fundamentally changed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BDWRS9ZV
• ISBN13: 9798351792149
• Release Date: September 2022
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"