‘Brothers, we’re here today to think about our plan of action. We are Stours’ he announced proudly ‘we stick together.’ He slammed his empty tankard down on the table with a crash. Some little drops of froth laid upon his beard. Ethan Stour folded his arms across his chest in a defiant gesture, as if the enemy were in the room. His rough woollen…
She feels nothing. No sense of loss? Nothing. Glancing at the rear-view mirror her heart lifts at the miles stacking up behind her. Having all the time in the world she drives slowly. Her time at last, her life reclaimed. Fine rain. Windscreen wipers squeak their protest as they wave long arms to…
Well, I don’t know what happened there. One minute I was – where was I again? Can’t remember. Never mind, it’ll come back. But this place I recognise. I remember this. It looks like the old home town, but bigger – built-up, if you like, tall walls – but quiet. So quiet. Apart from the…
Light stains the late afternoon sky. “Look at the sunset,” he says, “The light is painting the clouds.” He is doing what he always does. Behind us I feel the mound we dug, his spade tearing the gravelly ground. Then softer, finer. Crumbs pattering the clean white sheet we wrapped her in. He takes my…
I was surprised to find her in my beach hut. I was curious. “Who are you? Can I help you? How did you get in here?” I quickly gave up as every question was answered simply with: “I don’t know yet” I had no reason to disbelieve her, but it was odd nonetheless. I glanced…
On a dreich, dismal day in December, the clouds draped over the town like an oppressive shroud. The greyness soaked into the soul of anyone venturing outside, forcing hands deep into pockets and hunching features in defence against the all-pervasive cold. The man looked up at the menacing clouds and shuddered. Lowering his gaze, he…
Five days searching through jewellery shops across London finally led Henry to the pendant necklace. Practically identical in every way, his heart skipped at the sight. The jeweller draped the white gold, ruby cluster, across the glass counter in front of him and his eyes lit up at what was the perfect replacement. His debit…
In the deep murky waters of a garden pond Glub the tadpole woke up from his bed of pondweed. His lot on life was swimming around, munching algae and not much else. But the last few weeks were different. Last week he’d grown front legs, and the week before that he’d grown back ones. He…
Funny thing, daydreams. They come along and ambush you when least expected. Sometimes, in the midst of activity, you pause a second and are suddenly whooshed away to unknown, unexpected realms. Winters are an especially good time to be caught out. James didn’t know whether it was the grey sky outside as he sat with…
It is not often that I look up at Earth. The steep sides of the valley obscure the view, which means connecting to the telescope at Olympus Mons. But today I thought I would check it out to see if it was still there. And yes, it is still there. Pale little twinkle, letting me…
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