I just wanted to go for a normal walk the same as every morning. But oh no Trixie was having none of it. Every leaf needed investigation, every gateway was sniffed thoroughly.

‘Come on’ I said and she looked at me all sad eyes. And if dogs could talk she would have said ‘chill out’

I huffed and stamped my feet as she watched a leaf floating down, as if it was a magic trick just for us.

She y...

The thud of bat on ball brings me back

Lazily I open my eyes and smile

The figures in white run and laugh

Soon there will be rain, reality and winter

But today is sunshine, gentle breezes and cream teas

And somewhere beneath the willow you will find me....

Mum was worried, she had always thought Stanley was just like other people’s children. Started walking at the same time as her friends’ children, started talking and refusing to eat his veggies just like any of the other five year olds in his class. Just an average little boy.

And then one sunny day she realised he wasn’t - we were in the park when Stanley started ripping the heads off all the...

Like a balloon I feel myself floating with euphoria

Then bump back to reality as she looks away

A touch of the hand and my heart races

Accelerating away to the next disaster

Loving you is a fairground ride

There are rollercoaster moments of pure joy

Then I hit the edge and panic sets in

As you race away like a carousel

And my car grinds to a halt

TIME UP comes the sign.

The bumper cars are sil...

Mum was frantically calling her name over and over.

Dad was pacing up and down the kitchen floor, then round the small garden, then up and down the road, and then back to the kitchen again. Teddy Blue watched knowing that Dad could pace till the soles on his shoes were worn and Mum could call till her voice failed but they couldn’t reach Tilda.

‘Yes police’ Mum said faintly into her phone, as if...

In a world full of roses, be a thorn

A reminder of imperfection and pain

In a life full of safety, be a risk

A reminder that danger exists

In a world full of plenty, be a famine

A reminder that others do without

In a world full of certainty, be a question

A reminder that sometimes there is doubt...

It’s my party and half my class are here looking cool and pretending to be my friends.

Amanda the golden girl of the class is here and in front of everyone gave me a hug and said it was the best party of the year. I don’t think I detected sarcasm, sure I didn’t.

I am running round making sure everyone has enough food and fizzy pop. Amanda had asked about booze but Mum had forbidden that.

Sh...

Where were you when the darkness came?

Blindly we stumbled and fell

Lost and afraid and waiting for someone to make sense of it all

Where were you when the stars fell?...

I study his picture the way his hair is styled, the crisp white shirt and blood red waistcoat. His probably cost thousands but mum helped me find something similar and I smile, it looks as good as I’d hoped.

I put the red, red rose in my buttonhole and it’s good. Now for the eye make up, all goth and theatrical both ugly and beautiful at the same time. I’d read online what his preferred eyel...

Mmm. A voice is nagging at me like a persistent buzzing. As I finish the filing there is an emptiness where I should feel relief.

The routine keeps going but inside I know something is wrong, just not what is causing the unease. Home time and the bus is full of chatter but I can’t join in the gossip because my mind can’t keep up.

As I walk in the house is quiet, horribly quiet and you are gone...