Yorkshire Writers' Lunch

   The job came in as an encrypted message, to the phone he had been given for that purpose. The message itself was no more than a jumble of letters, numbers and symbols, but it matched the one he had been given. Attached to it were four files: a document containing terse, precise instructions; two photographs, of a rotund, balding man in his 50’s; and a map. He committed them all to memory, then turned off the phone. He would drop it down a suitable drain later, somewhere distant from both his flat and the location shown on the map.                The message had given him only a couple of hours to prepare, but the location wasn’t far away, and by now the process was second nature to him. He inspected the rifle, checking the sights and magazine, then placed it back in its innocent-looking suitcase. He took a few minutes to decide on appropriate clothing. The location was quite central, and close to the stat...

Trigger Warning: Death & Grief I cared for you darling till life ran out. I held you, your last breath was in my arms. I asked you to come back to me, not to leave. Though all in vain, you were taken from me. You slipped away without saying a word Quietly and in the moment, unexpectedly. We could not have known it was the day The angels would come and steal you away. Without warning or drama, just peace and calm I placed your head into my arms. It was already too late to save you, Just to hold you was all I could do. As tears overwhelmed, my eyes were full, Knowing I'd lost you forever and this is all. Your eyes will open no more to see me again. All we had and shared had come to an end. A final goodbye, the end of life. I walk on alone but on which path? Becoming lost in a world, sinking deep, While all I have left are the memories I keep. Precious and treasured within my heart, Safely keeping for the rest of time. A wandering soul drowning in tears, Flooding into my world, f...