Past the Sneakers, written by Samantha Y, truly touches my heart. It portrays the life of a boy named Aaron, who feels guilty for the death of his little sister. His parents don’t help much in his near-depression state, by saying things such as, “If not for him, our baby would still be here.” As the story progresses, Aaron goes to a parking garage. There, he is saved from committing suicide by an unknown man and woman. Aaron tells the woman that he is sorry for everything, even though he knows that she has no idea what he’s done.

This fictional piece is fascinating. As I read the story, I was completely immersed from the first word, until the last. Samantha does an excellent job describing the character’s feelings, and the moods that are present at various settings. As the reader I was constantly beside the main character seeing and feeling what he felt. This intriguing story definitely leaves me eagerly awaiting more of Samantha’s work.