from They Made The Effort

Ski bags and suitcases. It was that time of year. She went to the toilet to change liner. The cramps were starting. She popped two Nurofen out of their blisters and scooped water from the tap. She wasn't going to let this spoil her day out, her jolly.

They frisked her thoroughly, but she didn't have to take her boots off. The gate was quiet. She sat down next to the window. It was still dark outside, all she could see was her reflection and the emptiness behind her. The flight wouldn't be busy. She was glad. She thought about the day ahead, about how they would spend it. She needed this. She wanted to see him. Just this once. It wouldn't come to anything. It couldn't.

from Jammed

'There's straws in the kitchen drawer,' he said.

'Eh?' I said.

'Straws,' he said. 'I need a straw. And put some water in that tea, there's steam coming off it.'

I took the tea back into the kitchen and emptied half of it down the sink. I let the tap run till it was cold.

'There you go,' I said.

He looked at the cup. The straw moved then bobbed out onto the table. 'You'll need to do it,' he said.

'Oh, right,' I said. I looked at my watch. I wanted to get to the chippy before the queue started. The kids were on a promise.

'Did you put water in it?' he said.

'Aye, I did,' I said.

He just sat there, looking at me. 'You'll need to bring it to me, Yvonne,' he said.

It was even worse than when we lived together. I was lucky I left when I did. This wasn't what I wanted to be doing with my life. He moved his head back when he'd had enough, at least I think that's what he meant. I put the cup on the table and sat on the couch.

'The nurse was here this morning,' he said. 'She'll be back on Friday.'