Michaelmas. After strolling along the River Cam through the tranquil college garden, she turns into the medieval Second Court, and someone collides with her. “Oh, sorry!” She recognises the voice. He gave a welcome speech at her freshers’ tea, wearing… Continue Reading
Lila heard a sigh on the other end of the line. “How did it happen?” her mother asked. “The usual way,” said Lila. “Lila. You know what I mean. Do you two not use protection?” “Mom. It happened.” “And you’re… Continue Reading
You’re securing the doors and windows while I field-strip the Winchester. Live long enough after the world ends and survival becomes a tired old routine. You sleep while I keep watch, I vomit as quietly as I can while you… Continue Reading
Jane, my best friend ever since junior high, cornered me after work to ask what was going on. She hadn’t seen nor heard from me in weeks. She and others must have left me a million text messages. I never… Continue Reading
If I buy the jumpers baggy, my mother mightn’t notice. I rifle through the knitwear in Penney’s. Saturday after lunch and it’s manic — young ones jostling, women aiming buggies like weapons. Mam let me come to the city, but… Continue Reading
Back when I was in college, if you were lucky you had an electric typewriter and a private room. If you were really lucky, now and then, you had someone to screw in that private room. I needed the typewriter.… Continue Reading
She’d rather it was a tumor. Rachel drove her hands deep into the cool meat. When she squeezed her hands tight, she felt the soft thickness work through and surround her fingers. She set one hand free and cracked an… Continue Reading
He seized me up like a carrion bird and like a dead thing I let him. Then I came alive again. “Oh no,” Reinhardt purred — defaming the language of cats — “oh no, my girl. Under Heaven you swore… Continue Reading
Alex stood on the edge of a rooftop fifteen stories high, staring at an exit sign that led to nowhere. His unlit cigarette was perched precariously between his lips, momentarily forgotten. He walked around the exit sign, looking at it… Continue Reading
Your mother called me after you went missing, asking if I knew anything they should know. There aren’t a lot of places to hide in Victorsville, and she was worried because no one had seen you since the night before.… Continue Reading