“I don’t know where to start.”  Felicity’s fingers found Michael’s hands across the table. “Me neither,” said Michael. “I’ve been thinking in fragments most of my life. You know, short sentences, questions that can’t be answered.” Michael nodded, but Felicity knew he didn’t understand. She had meant to behave, but there had been so many … Continue reading SOME OPENING SENTENCES by Rachel Robbins (1st place, Apr22)

A few hours after his birth, the child was shown his whole life in a picture book. The title was This is How it Will Be, and the author was CN Strathroy. It took a short while for the boy to realise that his own name was not CN Strathroy and when he eventually went … Continue reading THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE by David Hartley (2nd place, Apr22)

It was the dawn of an age of wolves and ravens. It was the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord 793. The bells tolled out across the sacred island of Lindisfarne. Today, they sounded different. The usual coordinated and tuneful chiming, echoing off sea and shore to God’s delight, was replaced … Continue reading LINDISFARNE, 793 by Alex Hawksworth-Brookes (3rd place, Apr22)