The fishnet lead of the old attic window ensnared the scrub and pines of the forest beyond the front garden, lumpen with snow. But winter’s twilit chill didn’t reach Sam. In fact, winter never reached beyond the bushes, it seemed. The gardenias were in bloom. Ten bushes that should be dead in this climate, glowed […]
Bleeding Trees, from The Immortal Wanderer
by Baransel Kutlu Heavy snow fell as he walked along a hill path. Coming across an orchard standing tall out of a thick field of snow, he continued under the trees, blood red liquid dripping from their bark onto the untouched snow. A red ring sat around the trees marking where they bled. He wiped […]
Bloody Life
ALPHA “Go! Take all the boys and leave the girls,” I heard commander Sesay shout. I really didn’t quite understand why he was ordering us to do such heart-breaking things, but I wouldn’t dare go against his orders. Not just because he is heartless, but because I feel as though I have to please him […]
Conflicted
Familiar yet unfamiliar. A piercing gaze confronted his eyes… heavy, dim and lifeless. A dark sea of ash bordered, dominating the pale skin which struggled to surface. Erratic strands of hair clenched a soft face, attempting to cloud a peculiar innocence. The limited figure produced a weak, powerful cry, “Help me…please.” The words seemed forced, […]
Sweet War
The Blitz – 1940, London “Miss! A gracious lady like you shouldn’t be walking on these hell-coated streets!” shouted a man carrying a mildly torn portmanteau, busily hurrying to the direction of the train station. Allison Bradshawe smirked to herself. She wasn’t planning on leaving the city to the safety she knew her family would […]
Poe
My body hurts as I lay on the hospital bed, staring at the walls, waiting for her to visit me, to comfort me. To see her in all her beauty again would bring joy to my sick heart. Virginia stands in silence in her white dress against the hospital’s white-tiled walls. She doesn’t say a […]
Wrong
‘Why did you do that?’ ‘Emma and Winston lied…I didn’t do it!’ ‘You already said that!’ A police officer suddenly interrupts Olivia’s speech and spits on the ground. ‘In my opinion, she is just a petty poor person who was trying to strike it rich overnight,’ another policeman chimes in. Olivia sits on an old, […]
The Driver and I*
Written by Amina Yussuf and Umar Pirbhai I told him the station. He replied “Okay.” I proceeded to buckle my seatbelt. I glanced over at my phone making sure he was going the right way. He was. I started playing games on my phone, every few minutes checking the app to see if he’s still […]
Forgotten War
Dearest Wife, I know there were thousands of questions that stormed your mind when I first showed my face, and that I failed to answer them. At first I consoled myself that it was for your own safety and well-being. But please understand that we all had our secrets to keep from the world on […]
Before It’s Too Late
Yicheng Teng When she opens the door to the antique shop, a little bell rings to alert the owner that a customer has entered. There is very little lighting inside, and not a single other customer. In fact, to the woman who has just entered, it appears to be closed. A short old man with […]
Haringey Unchained 