'And now Family only,’ Mum smiles.
My sister’s boyfriend doesn’t move.
Tom nods as his hand leaves mine, & takes the picture. This is the one she will send to her friends.
𝘕𝘰, 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.
The turkey is sweating.
She hands me the knife, still warm from her grip.

I only take it off for him.
My YiaYia gave it to me for protection.
A pendant: the evil eye.
Yet it never saw him coming.
Wife’s scent still on him. His ring gleams.
‘𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱’
I place the eye away.
Close the drawer before it can see.
Only mine stay open; wide, unblinking, watching me vanish #writecbc🧿

I said I didn’t believe in ghosts.
But here’s one: his voice wading through the exhibit like breath fogging glass.
His painting of Orpheus hangs nearby. Looks familiar.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.
My phone buzzes. The speaker shudders like grief settling into a body. I lick my lips & taste salt.
#writecbc

The woods murmur all week. Tonight they send a knock.
Outside, three women, eyes like pits in rotting fruit, antlers faint in the dark.
‘Come’ they rasp, ‘the herd is waiting.’
‘I didn’t hunt.’
‘But you feasted.’
Their hooves click as I follow.
And the woods scream like something birthing.
#writecbc

#writeCBC 2 AM. Voice wet with drink. I love you, you know.
Morning takes him back. Shame seeped into bedsheets. Not gay (said twice, a prayer). You are my secret (whispered). We flicker in the dark.
But secrets grow restless. They itch. They break skin & let out daylight. And I? I crave the sun.