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[…]
No one ever told me how old you have to be to share your first intimate kiss. Sam was a little startled when my open mouth locked onto his. It was so deliciously perfect, my lips started to tingle with pleasure. A few kids stopped kicking their ball around and[…]
The Merlot dribbles in a clockwise flow from a small slit in the wooden barrel. The dim light, escaping from the flickering fluorescent tube, enhances the dark crimson colour of the wine. Dave, lying on the cold, stone cellar slabs, mouth open, catching every drop of the vintage red, isn’t[…]
They walk towards each other, her smile filling the shortening gap. They have nothing in common. Old enough to be her grandad, young enough for bedtime stories. They don’t share the same skin colour or culture. They don’t share the same religion or history. But, when they’re side by side,[…]