The girl next door who plays the piano, begins her music. As her fingertips settle upon the ivories, I allow my mind to wander. Not to far off places at first, just to the end of the garden, stood between two lonesome oaks who, despite one another, always seem sad and companionless this time of … Continue reading Wanderings
Small and feral. Green knees and knotty hair, Nanny’s little devil; bumbling without a care along the concrete stones with mossy edges and busy ant homes. How she longed to be feather light, paper transparent and magical within and without. To blink and merge with vivid climbers scaling varnished heights. Her tissue paper skin grazed … Continue reading The Fairy Garden
If there was anything I did make a conscious effort to improve this year, it was how much time I set aside for reading. I didn't set a number of books, I just kept a note of them. All in all, I read forty three books. The odd number may annoy some but it is … Continue reading Top Ten Books of 2018
One Boxing Day I wrote about a father and son visiting a grave. I hoped with my words I could manifest enough love or tape to fix the hurt they no doubt felt. Since then, I’ve learnt the holes in human hearts cannot be darned like socks. The holes we make are not always perfect … Continue reading Without Strings
After failing to heed my therapist’s advice not to open them all at once, I stopped. I cleared away the mess ‘Friendship’, ‘Love’ and ‘Work’ had made and left ‘Childhood’ on the table. It stayed like that for days; like a baby elephant in the room with all of the gold edges becoming unstuck. A … Continue reading Four Boxes: Childhood
There were two boxes left. I was surrounded by layers of paper, glitter crumpled candy canes and velvet red. The mess which is left you when endeavour to delve a little deeper. ‘Work’ and ‘Childhood’ remained. The snowflaked blue box is cold to touch and the ink on the label is smudged. This box frightens … Continue reading Four Boxes: Work
I waited but a few hours before ‘Love’ overcame me; compelled me to gingerly remove the sprig of holly. The red berries burning brightly in the light. A leaf nicked my palm in my gentle haste and drew a pinpoint of blood, which my lips closed over and kissed away. The ribbon was tied tight, … Continue reading Four Boxes: Love
For Christmas, my therapist gifted me four boxes. Beautifully wrapped with thick, Clinton paper and ribbon. Each had a label. ‘Work’ was decorated in snowflakes, the ribbon was blue. ‘Love’ was deep red with a sprig of holly on top. ‘Friendship’ was busy with candy canes and glitter. ‘Childhood’ was gold, just gold and without … Continue reading Four Boxes: Friendship
It is strange. Of all the places I wear the red tutu the most, it is in the bath or by the sea. My ghost prefers to be near water. Perhaps the translucency, baring the skin and bones of all who venture in, helps it feel less alone. Or it sways in the coastal breeze … Continue reading Mermaid
I feel an emptiness but I also need to buy milk and tonight’s dinner. I’ve made it to the shops but there is a coffee house here. So instead of milk and dinner, I’m hiding in the back, settled into a semi-circular swing back chair, with a hot chocolate and cake I can’t really afford. … Continue reading A Hot Chocolate
