Short story

Time and space

‘Have some time. Have some space.’ Mark, her boss, had instructed on that initial dreadful day – without her husband, with grief – when she sat sobbing uncontrollably on the kitchen floor, phone pressed steady to one ear whilst the rest of her body shook.

That same week her doctor had said something similar as she processed Jenny’s first sick note.

How much to have of each though? Time and space were infinite.

Grief consumes Jenny as she struggles with a sudden death, causing her world to become increasingly surreal, where time and space seem to distort around her.

Published by Every Day Fiction, click here to read full story.

Well-being

“Move along, Sally instructed silently, teeth clenched. Her drenched maternity trousers stuck to her like clingfilm, her huge belly tightening and expanding over the elasticated waistband. Her hair starting to mat itself to her perspiring forehead. She pictured herself as the enormous turnip from the children’s tale, needing to be heaved by medical staff to move her from this spot, and wished she could hide behind the well until this was all over.”

Sally is heavily pregnant and overdue when her daily walk by an ancient well, storied to have healing waters, takes an unexpected twist.

Published by Every Day Fiction, click here to read.

Arm’s Length

“Shall we go outside, Max? I need some air. I could have killed someone just now. I was so angry I wasn’t paying attention. This is a nightmare. Sometimes I think I’m going to drown in my own grief.”

Ex-pro swimmer, Leah, helps a young girl overcome her fear of water and learn to swim. In doing so, Leah moves away from swimming in her own grief at being newly bereaved.

First published by Fairlight Books, click here to read.

Hammered

“The January joggers were still out in force in March this year, collectively escaping the monotony of lockdown which had itself been described as a marathon and not a sprint.”

Chloe is addicted to buying shoes, whilst inadvertently making colleagues redundant. Jon, now redundant, is increasingly escaping into alcoholism. Their stories start to overlap as they tackle their lockdown demons.

First published by Fairlight Books, click here to read.