I walk up the hill. The purple heather parts before me. A wintry day with light snow falling from the trees. This has been my destination for as long as I can remember. Fate has found many ways to prevent me from being here. A sick cat, a sick mother, my own flu. Leading to delay after delay, until I thought maybe I’m done with this whole thing. Perhaps they do not want me to come here. Yet I had ...

He plays on the beach. Looking out at the water as he carves out a sandcastle with his plastic spade. He imagines sharks and dolphins and all the little eels swimming together in the depths of the ocean. His mum lounges on a chair a few feet away, the whiteness of the lotion spilling into her skin. She looks at him drowsily and occasionally nods off to sleep, only to return to wakefulness at the s...

I lay in bed today. Well on the bed. This other being feeds me, I lie on him. I wait for him. I sniff. I try to go into the cupboard. I paw at it. There must be some real magic inside. Some special treats, but it’s always blocked off. Then I get bored and I remember my nice. I lie on my back and play with him and the string. I enjoy the rough sensation of the Matt against my back. I am alive. I lo...