FADE OUT
The doctor was a man of science; and, as such, had never had much time for the frivolities of religion or philosophy. He and his contemporaries dealt in fact, and during his time running the prison’s hospital, he had seen little to change his mind. His was a world of black and white; the only grey was in the ashen prison walls. It had not always been this way. >>>

THE BUGS CRAWL
She wakes and the bugs crawl.

That’s what they do. They crawl and fall and drift behind the ceiling, trapped between two layers—one wood and one transparent membrane. The light they cast is reflected off the sap constantly flowing down the walls. It dances about the room and little is left in shadow. >>>

TAKE ADVANTAGE
While she was alive my mother used to be a dancer. At least that’s what she said. I never saw her perform publicly and when I asked, she said she mainly did musicals. I never knew my father.

Going from what I had seen of musicals on the TV, I spent my childhood constantly expecting large groups of people to burst spontaneously into song. My mother couldn’t sing though. ‘Most of ‘em just mime anyway’ she used to say. That was back in the day though, I’m sure things are different now. >>>

EFFORT
When I try to think of the past, specific dates can be difficult to focus on. I can remember the feeling of days; mainly summer and Christmas, the two highlights of a kid’s year. But I can’t remember any firsts; and the firsts are most important they say.>>>

EMMA GREY
On Monday, on her way back to the bookstore from lunch, Emma Grey was walking through the park. It was a sunny enough day, and plenty of people wandered around. Laying on the grass, under a tree to her left, she saw an old friend of hers. She approached, and he recognised her straight away. They talked, caught up. She had work to get back to however, so they made their reluctant goodbyes and arranged to meet later that evening. >>>

US
So I got the call I was waiting on. Just a formality really, but I smiled anyway. Patted my stomach. Left.

Taxis are not hard to catch near where I live, so I was on my way in less than 10 minutes. I had to move quickly. Precision was the concern in all my actions. >>>

WHAT I NEEDED
I used to live a city life, like any normal man. But only city people think their home is normal. So one day I just up and decided to move. I sold all my possessions (except for my bed, clock, chair and books) and quit my job. My parents and old girlfriend were all dead – the city killed them. I had no one to miss me. I worked my last week of contract and then I left.>>>