It is real

Not a game this time

It started the same as always

The tickling

The laughing

But it ended differently

Broken

Wrong

And it hurts...

Ten of us they had and all day Mum and Dad rushed round to find us something to fill our rumbling bellies. Insects galore, grain too and snacks that the two legs had carelessly discarded.

When we see them fly into view we start up with the cries each of us calling to get first dibs on the goodies. Until the light began to fade we kept demanding food and then as dusk settled over us, we were exh...

Everyone has a favourite colour don’t they?

My first tricycle was a sweet cherry red and I used to zoom round the yard.

So standing in the bike shop on my seventh birthday it just had to be the fire engine red bmx.

It sort of continued from there.

First car ten year old Micra. You guessed it in red.

Then the Golf, then the Mercedes.

And then I saw her on eBay.

The Ford Capri with pepperpot allo...

‘Not again’ they said as Tomas came running down the hill towards them.

His arms were cartwheeling, eyes staring, he bent double panting for breath. The crowd in the street rolled their eyes as he croaked ‘Wolves, the wolves are coming’.

Tomas’ father cuffed him on the side of his head and dragged him to one side. ‘You shame me’ he said angrily, ‘This nonsense again and again. How could you b...

She sat watching the worlds floating past like cosmic bubbles. If she willed it they stopped, silent and motionless but she was happy to just enjoy the scene as the planets danced.

The girl started to speak, to tell of the sights she had seen. How her home was moons away and she was searching for a portal to take her back.

The cat stared into the golden void between worlds.

She knew of portal...

‘You haunt my fucking dreams’ I said as she stormed out of my room, my house, my life.

I hope she heard those words, spoken in anger but steeped in reality. Because like a storm she shook my safety. Working in the office it was boring, dull until she came along, next thing I know I have given up the 5 a side, the quiz team and all that anchored myself to my friends, my routine.

She blazed ...

I had never reached level ten before where you get to lead your horde of zombies to attack the giant squid. Into the tunnel we marched. My army moaning arms stretched toward our target.

Alert for danger I marshalled my troops closer to the squid’s lair when tap on my shoulder one of my zombies turns toward me his jaws gaping open

I can almost smell his rank breath. This isn’t supposed to happe...

When everything is lit with laughter and joy fills your eyes

When each touch is a thousand tingles,

Then will we lie under the stars kissing till our lips are chafed

Trusting so deeply we see only each other

Then a shadow crosses the moon

As I remember how you hide your texts from me

How you say ‘wrong number’ and snap your phone shut

I snuggle close next to you to recapture the bliss

But like the...

We arrived in the dark. There was a hum of noise but no sign of humanity, just the occasional barking of a stray dog. Then silence, then another dog would start. And the rustling noise of rodents as they chewed their way through the debris all around.

As light crept grey-tinged over the ruined town colossal murals came into view. Swirls of colour leached into the broken stone walls.

Some sop...

He was the one that got away

In my cross hairs and then gone

I was ready and waiting

Locked on the target

He flitted across my radar like a ghost

Filling my heart with hope

And then silence

He was the one that got away...