Kinds of Oblivion

Kinds of Oblivion

Through the crush on a night-time street, Death makes his way.  As he moves, flourishes of urgent neon sear into view from shop fronts above and left, and tyres hiss and slither on wet asphalt behind and right. The chaos of voices in the air around him rises up from a coursing mass of drunken … Continue reading

Plastic Donkey

Plastic Donkey

The undercover reporter sits up in bed and reaches, or rather fumbles, for the notepad on the bedside table. His heartbeat is a mixture of delicacy and forcefulness, like a moth trapped in a clenched fist. He writes the following sentence: My sordid existence has defiled my honest intentions. I went in search of truth … Continue reading

Jamaica

Jamaica

The green-eyed girl steps up her pace, she’s late. The customers don’t like it when you’re late, especially when they’re sat there in their leather suits…it can get hot under there. She flicks her cigarette with careless grace into the side of a bin and turns the corner. Number 19, a wide set of steps … Continue reading

Pariah

Pariah

The teenage girl takes one final pull on the stub of her cigarette then throws it in the direction of the portly old man from next door, his innocuous waddle leading him towards the canal. Though innocuous, his walk grates her to her very core. The fact that he’s heading to the canal makes her … Continue reading

Anniversary

Anniversary

The portly old man whistled as he left the hospital and walked back to his car, noticing with surprise that the car park was now swathed in cool early morning light. How long was I in there for? He opened the car door, its handle wet with morning condensation, and fell heavily into the worn … Continue reading

The Silent Inferno

The Silent Inferno

The wind howled and the rain hammered down. Sharp nails screeched deafeningly across chalkboard & a swirling vortex of rage rose up inside him. It took him a moment to force the lid back onto these irascible thoughts and find an equilibrium amongst the roaring sounds within. He realised he was staring at the tearful … Continue reading

The End of Another

The End of Another

Love him? Had she ever loved him? She was so angry. At him. At herself. At all of them. And no one. She could feel herself already making excuses for him. The rejection spilled over into everything she was now saying. Now she was back in credit: “WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?” The pause for … Continue reading

Exchange

Exchange

The till is closed. The familiar sound it produces makes the shopkeeper smile affectionately. He is a contented man. He is proud of his shop. He is proud of his loving wife. He is proud of the three sons in his life. He is proud of the doctor, his eldest. He is proud of the … Continue reading

The City Fox

The City Fox

Thud. The thief lands on the other side. He turns. Sees the outline of the police officer sprinting down the dark alley towards him. He takes a couple of steps back. By his feet is the handbag. He scoops it up from the ground not taking his eyes off her. The pig. The filth. He … Continue reading

Police and Thieves

Police and Thieves

After fastening herself back into the passenger seat of the police car the female officer removes her hat, which she places on to her lap, and rubs her tired eyes. Her partner, a thin man with a large aquiline nose, drives. His traits annoy her, despite his intentions always being in the right place. “Dear … Continue reading