Temptation

Her birthday. No different from any other day. Forego the cheesecake. That soft, deep, snowy, creamy sweetness and crunchy, grainy, caramel biscuit underneath; rolling around the flesh inside of her mouth, oozing between her teeth. Her stomach, heart and mouth reached for it. The reward of it! 

But. The fleshy bounce of her hips swelling, ballooning with each mouthful. Bones felt close to the skin mean LOVE.

© Valerie Taylor

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Paradise

She first knew about ‘paradise’ when she was an infant. A perfect place. A beautiful lawn maybe. But now? The split second when she felt seen by that man? She was so used to seeing her own face in the mirror. It always caused a plummeting in her mood.

© Valerie Taylor

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Separate Tables

Condensation on the windows. Smell of rain and humans. He’s looking at her again. His is all day breakfast. His stare pulls at her, like the undertow of the sea, sucking itself back into the swell new waves. The print on her book shivers. They are side by side at separate tables.

© Valerie Taylor 

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The Seer

They sat around the long table: her parents, grandparents, and younger brother, ignoring her.  She made tea and toast, settled into the window seat, and quietly watched them.

Eventually, her brother glided towards her, arm outstretched, inviting her to join them.  She shook her head.  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.  ‘I’m just not ready to die.’

© Gill Dunstan
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