Literary magazine

He looked at the space where the man had been blankly

for a second — his subconscious mind registered some

level of surprise — and then he decided it was fine. Steve

could leave if he wanted to. That was just alright by him.

Love is Hate

That was no problem at all. He knew that something terri-

Wedding ring for sale,

ble had happened to Steve now; knew it, with the same

clean only of the inside.

certainty that he knew the sky outside was moonless and

Found in post mortem.

dark, and that there was no hope for him now, but he

chose to ignore it.

Desire

After all, he would have to look to himself.

A sweet way with words,

But that was fine. Johnny was not going mad. All was

an addiction to strangers.

well. He didn’t lack mettle. He would show everyone. He

Oh to be alone…

would wait the night out. What was it? Some figure, some

-Mathew Quinn, Year 12

nocturnal vision which was troubling him now. In the day-

light, all would be well again, and Martin and Steve would

be back, and the darkness which had smothered him

would go away.

He sat on the couch, and rocked himself back and forth.

He felt nothing anymore. All was numb. Slowly, he began

to smile, too. He muttered under his breath, muttered

words that had no meaning.

After an hour, he went to the curtains, and looked out

again.

The thing was right in front of him. It was pressed to the

glass, inches from Johnny’s own nose. Some part of his

mind told him that he should be screaming, but all that

came out was a cackle.

Then the door opened on him, and he was knocked to the

floor. Martin was back. Johnny saw Steve, and Johnny

saw Martin, and Johnny saw what was behind them,

Johnny saw it, and Johnny was stone-cold dead before

his head, staring with glazed eyes at something in front of

him, hit the floor...

-Navonil Neogi, Year 10

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