It was a stupid mistake. I should not have taken the canal shortcut. Not at this time of night. Three shadowy figures, lurking by the footbridge, shuffle in the darkness. Their voices float eerily over the water; deep and threatening. I could turn back, but surely they have spotted me.[…]
I am definitely not one of those women who like to stare through rusty mesh fences at building sites, watching new office blocks sprout out of the ground. Yet today, I find myself standing in Sea Lane, gazing at a young lad digging a small hole by the edge of[…]
He can’t see me from where he’s standing. I’m in the perfect position, hidden behind the laminated table menu. His blue striped shirt, which I washed and ironed yesterday, is sticking to his chest, the top three buttons all undone. A flame theatrically explodes and lights up the kitchen area.[…]
Nobody seemed surprised when she announced: “He’s left me. Walked out.” Australia was mentioned. His wild life of clubbing and heavy rock never aligned to her love of quiet coffee mornings and John Wesley hymns. Friends from the congregation congregated, offering solid love and flimsy tissues. Her rediscovered passion for[…]
Jane looks at the loaded Christmas tree. Dominantly red, with a hint of gold. Beautifully wrapped parcels are stacked neatly around the trunk. Jane’s favourite carol drifts through the room. She sits back in her chair, holds a cup of hot chocolate to her lips and allows herself to enjoy[…]
Gender identity freezes my heart, resulting in deep thinking and shallow, painful cuts. Confusion and uncertainty serve to magnify my desperation for answers. What am I? Not knowing which way to turn, I look upwards shouting: “I love the sunshine.” The sun’s neutrality calms my anxieties. Liberated, I chase my[…]
As usual her oncologist was running late. Most of the chairs, polished by hours of nervous shuffling, were occupied. No eye contact made, no words shared. The suppressed atmosphere, hanging over the area like a damp sea mist, seemed to make time slow down. If only. Time was something Anne[…]
The surgeon’s stern expression prepares me for his analysis. His words, “It’s touch and go”, drill deep and sharp. Avoiding his eyes, I ask if I can see her. “Only briefly. Sorry.” He walks with me along the quiet corridor. Swaddled in stiff white sheets, she sleeps peacefully. Months of[…]
His voice was loud and authoritative. Threatening. Stevie and I hunched down on the damp grass and offered our naked legs. The dirty old rope cut deep into our skin, as we were ruthlessly lashed together. I noticed a fair-haired man march past, expertly spinning a gun on his middle[…]
I step back and cower behind the dark folds of the dining room curtains, holding my phone at the ready. Across the road, a group of hooded youths are quickly carrying out their plans.Just one word with the police and I would bring about a sudden end to their wanton[…]