It's A Bountyful Life

Sylvia Wesbury struggled to focus on the paperwork in front of her. Relief and guilt duelled each other as she analysed events of the past few months. Yes, relief at leaving a miserable marriage but guilt at abandoning her only daughter was swallowing her whole.  The prospect of severing ties with Sophie was terrifying. She…

The quiet buzz of the traffic helped to sooth her concerns. She took one last long drag upon her cigarette and the toxic magic of nicotine caressed her brain. From her hotel window, Helen watched the last office workers hurry home, eager to enjoy the warm evening with their partners and families. The orange red…

Sophie shuddered and held her breath as the car sped past. She tried to loosen her arms and shoulders to help relieve some of the tension. It had been two weeks since Maria’s funeral and she’d barely ventured out of the house. Nearby buildings loomed menacingly and threatened to collapse in on her. Keep breathing…

They leered down from the upper spire, mocking Sophie’s grief with their provocative features and malicious smiles. The gargoyles seemed out of place with the serene and majestic architecture of the gothic church. She knew their purpose was to help ward off evil and misfortune; their presence seemed to add further tension to the sombre…

Malcolm Turner took deep gulps of fresh night air as he followed his usual nightly route along Church Lane. It had cooled somewhat and this lightened his mood. He disliked the humid summer heat and the way it made his skin sweaty and clammy. The cool crisp winter mornings were his forte and his dog…