When a snowflake falls, there is beauty and tragedy; each is unique until it melts on the pavement. Wearing white and misty grey shrouds, black skeletal trees form a guard of honour. The blizzard mutes all noise as a mark of respect. It feels like the world is mourning, and in my life, I am. I could not tell him; I did not share my secret. Demure whites bleed onto the pavement, and peering into a shop window, the decorati...

Tuesday, the heat was close, like an unwanted embrace. Staring at the faded magnolia walls, I wanted to remove more than my single-ply knitted cardigan. I chose it for modesty, and that raised a rueful smile. Fanning myself with paperwork, this white chiffon blouse was too much. Getting dressed this morning, I hesitated between a black brassiere or ivory. Black would give the horny fuckers something to think about; ivory...

The next morning, December 31st, I got a call from Karen, thanking us for the fun time the previous evening. Apparently, John was in fine form after we left and she really appreciated all our help in making their fantasies come true. After we hung up, I told April and Maeve about it. “Are they invited tonight?” April asked. “I didn’t think they’d be ready for an orgy!” I answered. She looked at Maeve and they exchanged kn...

The time for Maeve and April to depart was near, April’s flight was in two days on Wednesday, Maeve’s the day after. I had thought to have just to keep things private between us until they both left but, given that we had made a couple of new friends in the past month, I thought perhaps I’d invite Lisa and Ted over for dinner and a night of uninhibited fucking to send them off. I texted them both to invite them, Ted was a...

"Damn, Val, you look... wow!" I said, not having the words I wanted to use to compliment her. But it didn't seem to matter as she smiled and blushed a bit at my approval. "Thank you. I was hoping you liked the outfit. I bought it for you but I guess this will be its debut," she said. "Well so long as I get a crack at it at the afterparty!" I said. "I hope so too... I'd hate to think I'll have to put this pretty thing away...

Jenny looked upwards at the dilapidated library, now covered in ivy and the drooping branches of trees and creepers that had invaded its space over the years; slowly reclaiming it. With no one to look after these old buildings, they just fell into disuse and rapidly became overgrown. All the windows were cracked and the concrete had weathered and broken apart in places. Nature finds a way, as one famous person once said....

We approached upwind of the cottage in case there were any animals in the near vicinity. That was Mark’s contribution which was very sensible; I hadn’t thought that animals may be present but Mark reckoned on dogs and possibly horses this high up, and their sense of smell and hearing would have given us away in seconds. Sarah suggested we be quiet; which was a given as far as I was concerned and my contribution was that w...

Mark and Angela had a pretty good life. Mark worked as a lead driver for a well-known package delivery service, and Angela worked in a real estate office. Married right out of high school, the first few years had been tough - money was tight as it is with all young couples. But they persevered, and now things had a much brighter outlook. Angela was a true homebody and loved nothing more than staying home, cooking and clea...