'Infatuation' by Martha Lane

Will it be too obvious if I wear this dress today?

Will it be obvious enough?

Should I wear lipstick?

Choose the red the colour of Snow White’s apple?

Choose the peach the colour of expensive silk lingerie?

Has she noticed me in the background of the video conferences?

Has Andy noticed that I’ve started working from the dining room table?

I wonder if he thinks it’s strange that I don’t leave when his boss calls?

Do his colleagues notice her too?

Do they see her serious brown eyes?

Do they see her perfect nose?

Do they hear her intelligence, and her laugh like music?

Does she have freckles?

If the webcam was higher quality would I see russet splashes sprinkled across her cheeks?

Has she ever touched Andy? A gentle squeeze of the shoulder perhaps?

Has he noticed how, at the thought of that, I am more eager in bed?

Can he tell I’m thinking of someone else?

Will we ever meet?

Would she be able to tell?

Tell how inexperienced I am? 

Know that I have never been with a woman? 

Would she care?

Would she like to know I think of her?

Does she think of me?

Could I arouse her?

Do I know how to arouse her?

Has Andy ever mentioned my name?

Has she ever asked after me?

Does she know my name?

Has she ever said my name?

'Some things I’d like to know about the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics' by Sam Payne

What if I hadn't been drunk on peach schnapps and lemonade and dropped my purse that night outside Nero's nightclub, would we have met anyway? What if you'd lost my number and never called the next day? What if we didn't share the same views on Brexit? Or hadn’t both thought that people who didn't like dogs couldn't be trusted? What if when you touched me my body hadn't turned to water? What if when you asked me to move in after six months, I'd said perhaps we should give it more time? What if we hadn't found the cottage by the estuary and the seller hadn't agreed to accept five grand below the asking price? Or perhaps it was something smaller, like if we'd picked the red sofa instead of the cream one? What if I'd planted roses where the daffodils grow? Would any of that made a difference? Would any of those choices set us on another path? What if we'd chosen the butterfly house instead of the church? Would you still be leaving me at the altar? In all of these other worlds, are there replicas of our guests staring in surprise? Or are there some who saw this coming? Does another version of the vicar know exactly where to look? And is my mum always crying? Does the confetti stay tightly wadded in small white boxes or does it drift on the breeze? Are the doves we ordered for the reception always scrapping? Or do we get to see them in flight in a bright blue sky? Tell me, please, is there a different outcome anywhere? Or am I always left standing there listening to the echo of your shoes as you walk the wrong way up the aisle?

'A better life' by Laura Besley

‘You what? Are you going to throw away your future on some boy you’ve only just met? You know you won’t be able to go to university now, don’t you?’

‘Have you not been listening to anything I’ve just said? Did you not hear me when I said I feel happy for the first time in years, maybe ever?’

‘You know that having a baby isn’t all roses and moonshine, don’t you? Have you considered–?’

‘Are you asking me to…? Surely not?’

‘No, just think carefully, eh? You’ve got the rest of your life to settle down, haven’t you?’

 

'What Happened to Us?' by Zoe Critchley

 

What was that? What did you say? You love me? You don’t, though, do you? You say you do, but when was the last time you meant it?

This was inevitable, wasn’t it, really? What is it that they say again? About ‘fools rushing in’? What? You don’t think we did? What house have you been living in?

Which house have you been going to? Hers? You think I didn’t know?

Oh, you think I care? You think I still give a damn about what you do? You think I still give a damn about you after all of this?

What? You think I’m making a mistake? Seriously? You mean a mistake other than you? I don’t think so, do you?

Well why else would I have packed up all your stuff?

Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, ok?

 

'What Was That You Said?' by Lynda McMahon

What was that you just said? How am I supposed to feel about that? How would you feel if I’d said that about you? Well, you wouldn’t like it either would you? Why did you say it to him anyway? You know I can’t stand him don’t you? Well don’t you? When did you tell me he’s your best friend? Was I drunk? I’m not really that bad am I? Why do you stay with me then if that’s how you feel? Who do you think would put up with you? How do you know I said that? Who told you? When did you see her? Didn’t you tell me you’d finally finished with her? Didn’t she get the message? Or is she too thick? What do you mean you didn’t finish with her? What has she said to you? Do you believe her or me? Why do you believe her Didn’t you tell me she was a liar? What do you mean, that’s me and not her? Do you love me? 

Where are you going? Are you coming back?

'Pizza Express' by C.S. Bowerman

Did I knock loud enough?  Who knows?  Maybe I should try again?  Or will that annoy them?  Or annoy them more?  Or maybe it wouldn't annoy anyone because they didn't hear me to begin with and they are waiting for me to knock?  Is there a right way to knock?  Is it only a knock if you use your knuckles?  What if you use the flat of your hand?  Is that a slap?  Or what if you use the door knocker?  Is that what that means?  Use the door knocker not your hand?  But wouldn't they have said that if that's what they meant?  Do they want me to stand here all night?  Do they think I have nowhere else to go?  That I can spend my evening on their non-descript doorstep wondering if they have heard me knock?  Actually do you think that IS what they want me to do?  To stand here in total indecision and time how long I'll wait?  What kind of person would do that?  Leave a misleading sign on their door to see who would fall for it?  Surely that is a cruel person?  An unkind person?  Maybe a dangerous person?  Could they be looking through the window sizing me up?  Am I the person they were looking for?  Am I the victim they are looking for?  Do I look easy to over-power?  Easy to talk into the house?  Easy to sell a sob story to?  Perhaps I should walk away now?  Isn’t waiting five minutes enough?  But will I lose my job if I don’t deliver this pizza?  Where will I get another job?   How will I pay my rent?  Hang on, is this number 10?  Is that a six or a zero?  Is this the wrong house?  Oh, hello – pizza?