“I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!”

The king of the world - also known as Sam - or Samuel, as his mother called him when he was in trouble - was balanced precariously atop the cabin of a rusted out truck, his body arched, his arms raised to the brilliant blue sky above as his voice carried on the wind to nowhere in particular. He was all of nine, and with his best friend Rory beside him he was in his el...

The roar of the waves as they broke on the shore was relentless, a deafening cadence as they crashed over the body of the small boy that lay face down in the sand.

He was still, lifeless, but for the battering of the waves as they pushed and pulled at him. Not even the seagulls circling above on the prevailing winds, peering down with hardened, dried black eyes that knew no conscience, knew quit...

Sam woke with a start, his heart fluttering in his chest and his brow moist with sweat.

As he looked around, he could see a pair of eyes peering back at him, drawing closer. He wanted to cry out, to yell and shout and lash out at the darkness that surrounded him, but he was stopped in his tracks as he felt himself being enveloped.

“Shhh. It’s OK…”, whispered the pair of eyes, and the person at...

To those who read this letter, likely long after I have passed - I do not ask for forgiveness or for absolution. My days continue to draw to a close and I am ill of health, but in the face of it all I am at peace within myself.

I know that with this I will face the ire of a few and the judgement of many, but some things cannot go unwritten in perpetuity. I write this so that there may be absolute...

It seemed as if the entire town had turned out for the occasion. The council chambers were now standing room only; beyond, the townspeople spilled out into the street, muttering in hushed anticipation. The men stood stock-still, the women fanned themselves in a vain attempt to escape the stifling heat and the children atop their shoulders, usually tuckered out by now, were wide-eyed as they peered...