'We All Want Things We Cannot Have' by Laura Cooney

Wanted: Baby bootees and overripe plums, not necessarily in that order. Will Pay.

'Social prescribing from my sister (via text)' by Rachel Canwell

Sis, just take the usual cure – new shoes, white silence and midnight ice-cream. 

'At last, he’ll get it' by Slawka G. Scarso

Packed suitcases on the landing. The door lock shining new. Music blasting inside.

The Feeling You Get When The Person In Front Beats You To It by Jane Claire Jackson

 Queuing. See three last kebabs sold. What now? Butcher disappears. Fetches more.

Relief!

A Discourse on the Absence of Magic by Lynda McMahon

 Once upon a time there were Fairy Stories. Now there aren’t. Postmodernism sucks.

'Fetch' by Kim Murdock

 After the rains, Jill carried Jack somewhere higher, where rot couldn't set in.

'Parental Good Intentions End in an Epic Fail' by Sally Simon

Father shaves scales, guts organs, exposes salty-white flesh, ignorant his daughter imbues mermaid-song.

'The Day the Time Machine Started Working' by Clodagh O Connor

I got out. Paul was still standing there.

“Who are you?” he asked.

'Stormy, sulky and spoilt Climate Change throws a hissy fit' by Cheryl Markosky

Plays with matches, turns the hob on full blast.

We can fix him.

'Reality TV Stars' by Donna M Day

If filming our divorce is a betrayal, clearly, I don’t even know you.

'Unlucky for Some' by Jaime Bree

Unlucky thirteen?

          I knew I shouldn’t write thirteen words, but I did,

and....

'Concern' by Annette Willsch

 I straighten up and remove my gloves. Will the blood stains come off?

'Getaway Car' by Liz Gwinnell

Ford Fiesta burning behind the flats. Police sirens wailing. Dogs barking. Heist completed.

'Genie, if you exist, hear my plea' by Mariella Angela H. Olden

Grant my wishes: no fear of death, eternal rest, cure my dad’s cancer.

Wreckage by Allison Renner

 Tires squeal in my memory, drowning out the priest’s blessing over your casket.

'Just One Thing to Do When You're Feeling Low (In Tribute to Michael Mosley) by Cath Barton

 Think of your heroes and give thanks for the inspiration of their lives.

'Nameless Revelation' by Sean Hill

The veil of sight was burned away, but what was revealed burned worse.

'Puppy' by by Jennifer Mungham

Legs running on air, nose snuffling pillows, one bite, caught in dreams only.

'The Palimpsest' by Maria Sanger

Oh Phoenix, papyrus leaves burn like Troy in the aftermath of your birth.

'Mother' by Lucy Brighton

You were made of hobnobs and a coal fire burnt out too soon.