The Show Must Go On, by Eyad Al ShamiThe Salt of the Storm
The smell of rain on hot pavement is a sharp, metallic ache that settles deep in the lungs. It is the scent of the earth waking up, gasping for a drink after a long, dry fever. I remember the feeling of a wool sweater turning heavy and damp…
Two Coats, by Barry CawstonBeauty among the Ruins
Do you know what this place is? It is a deserted part of a Silversmiths in Birmingham. There was a time when over thirty people used to work here. But with the decline of the staff this beautiful place was left to rot. But look, how the place…
The Weight of Small Hands
I spent this morning watching my nephew try to lead our golden retriever on a walk. The leash was far too long for his small hands, and he kept tripping over his own sneakers, but he held on with such fierce, serious intent. He wasn't just…