Snow Garden

must an advert for something, because everything here is an advert for something, but the girl can’t imagine what. It’s like a no man’s land, this place. You could lose yourself.

The truth was, there were no instructions when you got married.

it was love at first sight.

‘But that’s our story,’

Mind your feet

small sad sigh, as if something was travelling towards her from very far away.

had wanted to give up, when the job had seemed too big and he knew he was out of his depth, but Alan had worked it out, every detail.

night we built a bike

Alice. A textbook marriage. Other couples had come and gone. Divorce, remarriage, several early bereavements, stepchildren, singles’ parties, speed-dating

with her tinsel wings. For a moment she gazes at the box with her hands suspended in the space above it, as if it contains hallowed treasure. Then she takes off the cardboard lid and places it beside the box.

Inside there is one folded duster and another duster wrapped around something small, along with a pot of cream. She removes the pot, the folded duster and the one in a bundle. She places them just-so on the counter. She unscrews the lid from the pot and shows Binny the white cream inside. Binny gets the lemon smell again. Slowly and carefully, the young woman unwraps the bundle and reveals a small, silver christening cup.

‘Life is hard sometimes,’ she says, lifting the cup from its duster wrapping. ‘And that’s a fact.’ She balances it between the tips of her thumb and forefinger and lifts it to the light. Transfixed, she stares at