“Piper is very well-adjusted.” She had often read or heard that from her teachers right through her journey in the education system. Piper had always felt the need to tick all those boxes to be highly regarded. Now she had finally scraped through the final exams, she wondered if those remarks had protested too much. … Read more
Tamsin squinted against the sparkle of sunlight glinting off the swirling current of the river. Her stomach rumbled as the sun sunk in the sky. Tonight, there would be a feast. The fishermen’s nets had been full this season, and she looked forward to filling her belly with pink-fleshed fish that had been dried in … Read more
Elliot stood there. Retreating foam hissed against his feet, grounding him in the moment. “But I don’t even know you,” he said, his voice barely audible over the crashing surf. Elliot’s words slipped out before he could stop. He looked at the ocean, its beauty pressing against his heart. The sea was dark, shifting, … Read more
Dr. Takahashi removed his stethoscope from Billy’s back. “You’re good to go,” he said. “I’m releasing you today. But remember, you’re not the hotshot you once were.” Billy, his face drawn and colorless, his stiff gray hair matted to his forehead, hunched forward on the table. His ribs ached when he breathed. “I’m not dead … Read more
The terrace of Palazzo Avino glowed in the late-afternoon sun, the pink façade reflecting across the silverware and glass like rose-tinted fire. Below, the Tyrrhenian Sea stretched endlessly, the color of old sapphire, fractured by sunlight and the far-off hum of boats carving through it. Courtney rested her arms on the white-stone balustrade where she … Read more