Searching for Jake

Jake Hansen has it all. The MVP of his high school hockey team. Full scholarship to an elite college program. Expectations of a storied pro career. Athletic, strong, driven - the epitome of masculinity in this most manly of sports. Out to prove to the world he is all male.
But the relentless voices in his head say otherwise, drawing him toward a strange and aberrant attraction to the young men around him. Enticed yet repulsed by his emerging feelings, Jake seeks resolution in disparate ways, embarking on a journey to find and embrace his authentic self.
There is no such thing as a gay hockey player. So thought Jake Hansen. Until ... "A battle raged inside his head. Two voices, constantly scuffling, vying for Jake's attention. Pushing. Pushing for dominance. A skirmish to outmaneuver each other, a clash to vanquish the other discordant musing in a wrestling match to determine a victor. The first voice, unnerving yet seductive, tempted Jake to explore the strange yet sensuous feelings of his attraction to the male body. The peculiar flourishing of a need to act on the urges that he, without success, had tried to block out. Blocked, for a long time, by the second voice. Cocky and determined, it reminded Jake of who he needed to be in the world he inhabited. Strong, masculine, drawn to the female sex. Admired by his peers and coaches as a star athlete, dominant in his sport, his maleness never questioned."

Rich Nelson is a retired social worker and college instructor who resides in Muskegon Michigan. In addition to writing, Rich fills his retirement hours with time in the outdoors, hiking the trails and kayaking the rivers of his native state. He volunteers with various community organizations, participating in city and beach clean-ups - and taking pride in his volunteer work as a Docent at the Muskegon Museum of Art.