The Cost of a Second Chance I stood opposite Emily in our lounge, slightly hunched forward, trying to coax her into opening up to me. I...
State of Mind Margaret Whitmore sits quietly at her kitchen table and gazes through the window. Though spring is arrivingsnowdrops and crocuses peeking throughthe world feels...
A Letter from Myself The envelope was orange. Bright, outrageously solike a tangerine in a January snowbank. Lying amongst council tax bills and takeaway leaflets in...
Lucy was orphaned as a child and grew up in a children’s home in Manchester. She married at just eighteen, having absolutely no idea what it...
Winter Visitor In the village, winter darkness falls early, and during a snowstorm, it comes even sooner. By seven in the evening, there was nothing out...
She stepped out of the limousine and knelt down in the mud: The secret of the white coat and old scar Today, something happened that left...
I dreamt a peculiar thing about my brotherthat he hadnt married very wisely. At the beginning, I genuinely tried to keep things civil with my new...
Its Important to Be Happy My father left our family for another woman when little Daisy was just four years old. He walked out straight after...
And so, they met Michael, whats the matter? asked Emily after several long moments of silence, as their supper cooled on the table. Youre not yourself...
No Room for Weakness Please, come. Im at the hospital. Emily didnt even bother changing out of her loungewear. She hastily pulled her coat on over...
Where Happiness Lives Katherine sat alone in her small kitchen, both hands wrapped around a steaming mug. The tea was...
Fake Beauty No way! You two have really split up? I cant believe it! Rosie stared at her mate in...
A sleek black Jaguar drew to a halt outside a humble terraced home on the outskirts of Liverpool. Its engine...
And so, of course, it had to be Emily, giving birth during a blizzard. She still had three weeks by...
So, this happened to my daughter when she was in year eleven. At some point, I started noticing that she...
30th December Today was a turning point, though Id mulled it over for weeks. After seven years, Ive finally done...
That morning, my wife told me we were going to have our fourth child. She added, We cant afford to...
Everyone helps out, but youre just special, arent you? Ellen, listen, could you come over today, maybe? her sister asked...
A Weekend Husband The fishcake was lying right in the middle of the plate, surrounded by emptiness, like a miniature...
But were family, said my brothers and sisters, on the day we bid farewell to Mum at the churchyard. The...