There’s no-one here at the moment.
Just sterilised, shadowed corners and
Rows of steel doors, all closed.
Those stories, pushed along drawer runners,
Running no more
In this halfway house, this budget hostel.
A first chance to rest
Brought to bear by flame and earth.
Thanks for reading, folks. My recent short stories include ‘Sunset Hours‘ and ‘Crib Stuck‘.
Matthew Richardson is a writer of short stories. His work has featured in Gold Dust magazine, Literally Stories, Close to the Bone, McStorytellers, Penny Shorts, Soft Cartel, Whatever Keeps the Lights On, Flashback Fiction, Cafelit, Best MicroFiction 2021, Writer’s Egg, Idle Ink, The Wild Word, and Shooter magazine. He is a doctoral student at the University of Dundee, a lucky husband, and a proud father. He blogs at www.matthewjrichardson.com.
a foreboding place; I would not want to be there; you convey its sterility well, Matthew —
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Thanks John, and sterility is right!
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Ooh, that’s a very odd place. I don’t think I would like that! Great poem, Matthew – I’m still feeling a little unsettled.
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Thanks Chris. A sense of quiet, uneasy waiting I always think.
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