Author: Lauren Thomas

It starts with a tilt of the head. Chins angled slightly upwards as freckles begin to darken on warm cheeks. Steps get lighter, smiles get wider, drinks get colder. Unencumbered by unkind spring frosts the smells of nature ripen and fill the lungs of fair weather runners, the skin on their shoulders lightly toasting. Shadows…

“Your name is Tree? What’s that short for?” His shoulders sank. He thought of his parents on their allotment, discussing natural fertilisers and the fact that humans had long since negated their right to live on such a beautiful earth. “Nothing. It’s just Tree.” “Seriously?” “Seriously.” He waited for the jokes about knots and branches…

She sat in the too cold church and kicked her legs, longing to be outside chasing the butterflies she had seen dancing through the gravestones. “Why did her daddy walk her down the aisle?” Her voice made the nearby heads turn. Her mother whispered back in the hope that her daughter might imitate the volume.…

“Here you go.” He placed the mug down in front of her. Settled into his chair with a heaviness that made the cushions wheeze. Opened his newspaper with a rustle and a wet clearing of his throat. “You’ve used the wrong mug.” Nothing. “Ed. You’ve used the wrong mug.” He glanced over his glasses, eyebrows…

“Wait!” Taking her phone from her pocket, she crouched down a took a close up photo of the comb on the ground. “Why on earth are you photographing a comb?” “Have you never photographed something that made you stop in your tracks? Something found in a place where it doesn’t belong?” “Well yes, but things…

His mobile phone and landline both rang at the same time. He rolled his eyes at the timing. He grabbed them and looked at the screens. Both unidentified. Shrugging, he answered both together. “Hello?” “DO NOT TRUST THE PERSON ON THE OTHER PHONE.” Yelled in stereo, their voices merging into one. “I’m sorry, who are…

“I’ve got less time than you.” The base of her skull fizzed with panic. “Why? What’s wrong? Are you sick?” A half smile that didn’t touch the eyes. “Nothing like that. I literally have less time. Look.” He showed her his watch. As the seconds hit fifty-five they then reset back to zero. “Clearly your…

She went to the coffee shop every day at the same time. She had a cappuccino and on Thursdays, a blueberry muffin. He went to the coffee shop at the same time every Friday. He always saw the lady with the cappuccino and watched her gazing out of the window with a sad looking smile…

Some said he was arrogant. He preferred supercilious. It was simply the superior word. He supposed he came across as looking down on the world. But that wasn’t his fault. When you existed at heights of six hundred feet or more, you’re always going to literally be looking down. But he did in fact think…

“I saw a dodo today.” “No you didn’t.” “I did actually.” “You can’t have done.” “Why not?” “Cos they’re extinct, dummy.” “Says who?” “Says science.” “What if dodos are just really good at hide and seek?” “Why would they be good at hide and seek?” “Wouldn’t you be if people kept eating you?” “Well, yes.…