The Book of Ethan/God Confronts Teen Suicide

THE BOOK OF ETHAN

GOD CONFRONTS TEEN SUICIDE

By

ALLEN C. LILES

Copyright © 2016 Allen C. Liles

All rights reserved.

Distributed by Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

INTRODUCTION

Ethan is a tall, handsome and popular 16-year old high school sophomore. Because of several sudden losses, he is contemplating suicide. Ethan lives in a wealthy Dallas suburb. The teen is the youngest son of a prominent and respected family. Ethan’s father Sam Sr. is the CEO of a commercial real estate company. His physician mother Larraine has a thriving internal medicine practice at a private clinic. Ethan also has two older brothers, Sam Jr. and Steve. Sam recently graduated with honors from Annapolis and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. Middle brother Steve just signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas at Austin on a four-year football scholarship. Ethan also played the past season for the same high school as a first-year wide receiver. The family lives in a Texas-size home with six bedrooms, five baths, a swimming pool and tennis court. While everything once seemed outwardly perfect in Ethan’s life, a series of crises has struck the family. Because of some profound personal losses, the teenager has become depressed and suicidal. The 16-year old must also now deal with two powerful and conflicting forces. Both God and Satan are trying to influence the teen’s ultimate decision. God has decided to confront Ethan with the ramifications of ending his life. Meanwhile, the Prince of Darkness keeps urging the teenager to proceed with killing himself. The battle for Ethan’s soul commences and eventually comes to a powerful conclusion. The outcome lies in doubt until the final moment when the teenager decides whether to live or die.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE—ETHAN’S LOSSES

CHAPTER TWO—THE DEVIL’S GAME

CHAPTER THREE—GOD ARRIVES ON THE SCENE

CHAPTER FOUR—VIRTUAL REALITY

CHAPTER FIVE—REVELATIONS OF THE FUTURE

CHAPTER SIX—EXTREME FIGHTING

CHAPTER SEVEN—FINAL ARGUMENTS

CHAPTER EIGHT—ETHAN’S DECISION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER ONE

ETHAN’S LOSSES

1 To an outsider, 16-year old Ethan’s life looked perfect. He was handsome, tall (6’1) and popular with everyone. Although only a sophomore at his suburban Dallas high school, he made the varsity football team as a first-year wide receiver. His older brother Steve was the team’s star player last year. Steve recently signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas on a football scholarship. Ethan’s Mom and Dad are both successful professionals. His mother Larraine practices at a prestigious medical clinic. Ethan’s dad Sam Sr. is CEO of the second largest commercial real estate firm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Ethan’s oldest brother Sam Jr. just graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and received his commission as an ensign. The family’s luxurious home includes a tennis court and Olympic size swimming pool. From a material viewpoint, Ethan life was blessed. However, several unexpected losses have caused the teen to lose his emotional moorings. Struggling with a personal freefall, Ethan has decided to kill himself.

2 The teenager’s drift into a suicidal depression occurred at warp speed. Four weeks ago, his longtime girlfriend Phoebe informed Ethan that her family was moving to Atlanta. Phoebe’s mother, a financial services executive, received a corporate promotion that doubled both her salary and responsibilities. As Phoebe’s father was unemployed, the mother’s promotion proved impossible to turn down. Then, within 48 hours of that unexpected news, Ethan’s red Jeep Wrangler was broadsided by another teenager. The other driver, a 17-year old girl who Ethan knew from high school, sustained only minor injuries. However, Ethan’s left knee absorbed extensive damage. The ER doc, a former football player himself, knew that the teenager’s knee was ruined for any future athletics. A sports surgeon later confirmed the bleak news. He told the 16-year old: No more football for you, son. I’m really sorry.

3 Everyone in Ethan’s family was devastated, both about the accident and the probable end to a promising football career. His father Sam Sr. seemed especially consumed by disappointment. Both of his parents and two siblings tried to reassure Ethan about his future. But the reality of losing both Phoebe and football were traumatic to the teenager. Two of the key linchpins in Ethan’s life were torn away. Then yet another shocking event happened as Ethan was being released from the hospital. His physician mom had arrived to coordinate the discharge process. While awaiting some last minute orders, Ethan decided to take a stroll down the hospital hallway near his room. He rounded a corner to find his attractive mother engaged in an intimate conversation with a grey-haired doctor. The two medical professionals were standing much too close for a normal chat between colleagues. The other doc and his mom seemed startled to see Ethan. There was a brief and awkward exchange. Then his mother quickly escorted Ethan back to his room. Mom, what the hell was that all about? the teenager demanded. He could tell by his mother’s demeanor that something worrisome had taken place. Without warning, his mother began to cry. What’s going on? Ethan asked. Larraine looked at her son for a full minute before replying. We didn’t want to say anything until after you were home from the hospital, she told her son, Your father and I are separating. The teenager stared at his mother in shock. He had seen his parents arguing before. But nothing had prepared him for this unexpected revelation. Ethan began trembling. He sagged down to the floor in a sudden faint. An attending doctor and two nurses helped him back into bed, where he remained another full day before being discharged.

4 When Ethan got back home, he spent the first few hours just staring at his bedroom ceiling. He kept obsessing about his losses. The teenager felt overwhelmed. Phoebe had left town, his budding athletic career was over and now his mom and dad’s marriage might be dissolving. Soon, the teen began manifesting physical symptoms of distress. He became short of breath. A sudden anxiety attack struck him full-force. He started hyper-ventilating. His muscles tensed. Before the attack, Ethan had ruminated about everything that had happened to him. Now he worried that something even more terrible was about to take place. Finally, Ethan got sick to his stomach. The teenager gathered up his crutches and struggled into the bathroom where he vomited for several minutes. After literally hugging the toilet, he managed to stagger back into bed. Ethan again assessed his situation, which now seemed almost hopeless. He finally decided that to seek something most teenagers avoid: professional help. To his mother’s relief, he asked that she set up an appointment with a psychiatrist. His mom was more than happy to honor the request. She had never seen her son so distressed before.

5 Dr. Brian Ward was a former medical school classmate of Ethan’s mother. Dr. Ward quickly diagnosed that Ethan’s problems stemmed from his sudden and unexpected losses. He prescribed a standard treatment: a more nutritious diet, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation, no alcohol or caffeine and regular visits with the doctor to discuss his feelings. He also prescribed two leading anti-anxiety medications. Although Ethan did not like taking pills of any kind, he agreed to start the medications. Dr. Ward shared privately with Ethan’s mother that he detected no signs of major depression. He reassured Larraine by saying: I checked your family history. There is no clinical depression on either side of your family. Ethan dislikes drugs of any kind, so that’s not his problem. He has a good self-image, as far as I can tell. He is just dealing with some bigtime losses in his life right now, especially with his girlfriend and his connection with football. Ethan’s mother nodded in agreement. Neither she nor her son had shared about anything with Dr. Ward about an upcoming marital separation. Although I don’t think Ethan has any sign of deep depression, I would still keep an eye on him, the doctor concluded,