Tag: Family

Bedside Manner

Published by Jonathan Furneaux on October 30, 2020

‘Bedside Manner’ was originally penned for a 100-word microfiction competition. Little Anne woke up screaming. Her forehead glistened as she wrapped her thin arms around herself and shivered. ‘Nightmares again?’ I asked softly. We were used to the routine by now: Anne would awake screaming and I would come and sit on the corner of the bed. Downstairs, her mother and father hurled abuse. A plate smashed, followed by loud…

Emberfall

Published by Jonathan Furneaux on January 23, 2020

Emberfall was shortlisted for the Audrey Daybrook Short Story Prize (Round 3, 2019). I kick the side of my griffin-mount, and he responds with a gentle, spiralled descent to the autumnal forest below. My fingers, clutching desperately to his neck-feathers, feel icy in the roaring wind. We corkscrew at the last second before crashing into the loam forest floor, and I hit the ground running. Ahead of me, the goblin…