love

Orvieto

Written for https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/ Alessandra didn’t care; she sang out of tune. Mamma Maria; her mum’s favourite song. When it played on the radio, nothing could hurt her. Italian dialects filled the air. A lost language – too painful to be spoken. Yet, in song, love shared an allowance of hope. The kitchen is for singing,Continue reading “Orvieto”

Orvieto

This is from a novel I am editing. What do you think? Does this prologue work? PROLOGUE Alessandra lifted the ornate, brass handle of her writing desk to reveal a small orange, glass bottle. Tiny in her palm, she wrapped her fingers around its careful curves. Each familiar memory washed through her mind. Her dad’sContinue reading “Orvieto”

I Must Scream

Written for https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/reenas-xploration-challenge-377/ I have no mouth; I must scream. From my glass prison, I observe others. What are they doing? Each shriek of joy mingled with my self imposed loneliness is like a mask of hate. Normally, I push open the window and yell at them to stop. Today there isn’t enough energy toContinue reading “I Must Scream”

Disregarded

Written for https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/category/word-of-the-day/ Mary flicked through the newspaper, left on the bench by its previous occupant. All old news; she wondered whether the latest celebrity scandal was worth the paper its printer used. Nobody cared anymore. Marriage was like the football transfers. A signing, meant to be their saviour, sold the next year. Besides, sheContinue reading “Disregarded”

Lost

Written for https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/reenas-xploration-challenge-359/ Lost in a maze of tangled thorns, he searched through tough branches of his negative emotions. Life, whatever that meant, surged past in the hope he could find a solution to his problem. As a boy, taught not to cry. Be a man; his father used to shout, before a belt buckleContinue reading “Lost”

Broken

Written for https://michnavs.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/day-9-of-16-days-of-activism-campaign-violence-against-women/ and http://dversepoets.com/2024/12/02/prosery-taylor-swift/ ‘Hello, is it possible you could help me?’ he asked. A charming smile lit up the room. Fool me twice, she thought at first. Her ex husband Thomas, armed with a seductive sneer, and expensive flowers, was also an expert and hitting where the bruises didn’t show. Her memory ofContinue reading “Broken”

Written for https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/category/word-of-the-day/ Sarah hung the tablecloth in her hands. ‘What is this?’ ‘You are drying the dirty dishes.’ ‘I’m of the boomer generation,’ she argued. ‘We use the dishwasher.’ Aunty Carol smiled, not sure if her niece was joking or not. ‘if you would like some of Uncle Sam’s dessert, this is what youContinue reading “Love”