Fiction

Mummy and Daddy looked sad today. I saw Mummy crying in the kitchen as she was cleaning up after dinner and Daddy had his arm around her. They were whispering to each other but I have really good ears and could hear them talking. Mummy kept saying, “Kayla will be so upset when she finds out.” That’s me. My name is Kayla. I wonder why Mummy thinks I’ll be upset.

Last Friday I turned seven years old...

The front door slammed shut. She shivered as she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall beside her. Five past eleven in the evening, the latest he had got home so far this week. The potent scent of alcohol wafted into the plain, grey living room where she sat on the sofa’s edge, twisting her wedding ring around her finger to stop her hands from shaking. As they locked eyes, she jumped up and held her breath.