“Darling, I’m coming home at last.” A sheet of lavender paper unexpectedly appears on the dining room table one morning. Her handwriting. Her little swirl of a signature. Her scent. Claire. Claire?? The miracle I’ve prayed for all these months. I lift the paper and hold it to my cheek, wet with tears. I trace […]
Opening the door to the attic, she entered what was once an artist’s studio. Light from the rooftop windows revealed numerous unfinished paintings leaning against the walls. Discarded rags smeared with turpentine and a rainbow of colours lay on the floor. And standing proud, in the corner, a wooden easel housed a blank canvas. “Locked […]
She comes out of nowhere. One minute I’m alone; the next, she is speaking to me in Spanish. A beautiful young woman about my age, mid-twenties, with my mother’s chin and dark-honey hair much like my own. “No habla Espanol,” I tell her. “You will. My grandfather will teach you. Tomorrow your life will change […]
The prisoner requests Cadmium Red; the guards munch juicy apples.The prisoner requests Manganeze Violet; the guards feast on grapes. The guards never question strange occurrences, just keep each prisoner happy until firing squad time. This one asks for oil paints, “for practice”. “Burnt Sienna, Emerald Green, Chrome Yellow, Cerulean Blue.” The day before execution, four […]
Knock-knock.“Come in, darling,” she sings out happily. Knock-knock.“Come on in – you have your key!” Knock-knock.“I said come in! You’re starting to push me over the edge.” Knock-knock.“Come in, for the love of God!” She screams. “What kind of game are you playing?” Knock-knock-knock.“Don’t do this to me!” She can feel veins popping in her […]
Yoga class is so much nicer without Cathy. Her slender body could form any pose, and her coppery hair remained unruffled, shining. Our instructor Matt adoringly called her “Golden Serpent”. Not only was Golden Serpent beautiful and supple, but she was articulate and well-read. “Why do we do things that aren’t good for us?” Matt’s […]
“Mummy! Timmy bit me!” cried George. His mother frowned up at the worker bringing him out from nursery. “Ah yes, the boys had a slight altercation over a toy this morning, and the other boy did retaliate by biting him. It didn’t seem to upset him too much, and they made up after!” With so […]
The children sleep softly this All Hallows Eve, wrapped in moonlight and dreams. Suzie snuggles with her favorite toy Fluffy, dark hair encirclng pink fur. I hold back a sob. My darling daughter must never know. Matthew grins in his sleep, chuckling at one of his tall tales. My own crooked smile trembles. My precious […]
“I am sorry, sweetheart, but this is the way it is.” Mrs Williams was getting ready to leave for her night shift at the hospital, and Tim, her 8 year old son, had to stay home alone on Halloween night. “I hate you!” Tim yelled back. “I never have any fun!” For Tim, it was […]
The box arrives with no return address. Although it is addressed to her, she is hesitant to open it. The box has unusual wrapping – a metallic paper which diffuses light into a chaos of colors. What wonders must such a box contain! She opens the package and gazes inside expectantly. Contents reveal only disappointment. […]
‘At first it was slow. I noticed, in those moments when we shared the daily cryptic, her mouth would droop, she would stop speaking mid-sentence for a few seconds.’ I shuffle in my seat. ‘Over time the illness quickened,’ like a black fog rolling under a door, or a mind filling with ants. They sit […]
Samuel woke up in the hall, but he didn’t think much of it; he sleepwalked every other day. He looked out his peephole first, as per his usual routine. Instead of seeing Sarah heading for her run, he saw her crying form surrounded by police officers. Half an hour later, he was in trial for […]
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