Marty’s Chance

Marty Barnett approaches the door. Before turning the key in the lock, he pauses, breathes deeply through his nose. He holds it, counts to five, and allows it to whoosh out. Lowers his shoulders and turns the key. Marty blinks in the sunlight and steps into the garden. He feels a frisson of delight as…

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The Doctor

'I'm sorry, Mrs Barnard, but your son has a significant delay.' The doctor smiles, as if it can alleviate the problem she's just confirmed. For years, I'd been worried about my little man, his poor grades on each school report, his preference for being alone. And now, this woman has the audacity to grin? She's…

Afternoon Tea

The tray falls out of my hands. 'Shit!' The tea cup and its matching floral pot smashes against the slate tiles and the spatter from the hot brown liquid pools around my feet. My nude heels are ruined; the whole of the left pointy toe is now stained. What looked like a quick trip to…

The Invasion

Leah couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Surely it was a joke. Shaking her head, she continued to dust the furniture in her home. But it's no use---intrigued, she fired up her PC and waited for it to come to life. Once connected to the internet, Leah found the radio station's website and downloaded a…

The Roommate

In a move that she truly believes is altruistic, Helen cuts the heads of all Pam's flowers. She snips them gently, halfway down the stems. Once the floral display is destroyed, Helen smiles and puts the scissors back in the drawer. Under the covers in her bed, hours later, she hears Pam come home from…