The Quit Date looms. I smoke continually, determined to enjoy each cigarette without the usual concern and guilt. The weekend passes. The final night. And then the unexpected happens. A blessing in disguise, perhaps. I choke while smoking my last cigarette – if such a thing’s possible. The smoke causes me to gag and cough, […]

July 2012 I arrive at the appointment about a week later. The nurse carries out a number of tests. Bad news. One of tests reveals that I have the lung function of a man thirty years older than I actually am. ‘I’m not very good at blowing out quickly,’ I say, hoping the nurse will […]

The village is deserted and the fields still, the grey sky stretching ahead, merging with the horizon A mist lingers in the distance, settling on the grass mound where the destroyed barn stood a few days ago Grass blows near the stile. Soggy leaves gather by fences The two friends stop for Sunday lunch at […]

the long night, one of many                                 person glances at their clock radio they are neither asleep nor awakethey lie uncomfortable, restless their mind races away, scenarios of ruin the seconds tick by, slowly the person longs for sleepor for dawn, for […]