northie

I love the way that the almost rhetorical opening three lines are balanced (answered) by the last line. Very effective.

It's partly a question of inclusion but also in many cases a question of being able to access appropriate mental health / emotional support services. The fact of not feeling part of a community is likely to cause some problems but it needs a very significant level of mental and/or emotional fragility to cause someone to respond in such a devastating, frighteningly inhumane fashion. The fact that doctrine / religion / radical tracts might be part of the mix only makes any such individual that much more unpredictable and liable to lash out without regard for the consequences.

A wonderful short. I was suitably impressed by how you managed to fit in all the necessary words. I particularly loved the creativity you employed to get over the large animal and the blue coat. That would have never have occurred to me, which is probably why you're a writer and I'm not!

I loved reading this story. It was like peeling back onion layers, gradually being given information and connections while still being aware that things, important things, remained hidden. Selfishness and selflessness in the abstract are two distinct things. When they come together to form two sides of the same coin they are anything but. This clash provided the emotional core. Was it coincidence or fate that meant that her son's boyfriend was the means of the mother casting off her bitterness at her husband's actions? It doesn't really matter: it was an emotionally satisfying climax to a very cleverly constructed story.

I love 'people watching' and if I see someone at a regular time in the same place (a cafe or other public space) it's quite easy to start wondering a little about them. Romeo appears at the outset to be in roughly this position but it quickly comes apparent that he is far from being detached in his observation. His unrequited love and how it is resolved is a lovely, humorous, 'will he, won't he' romance. Although it was perhaps obvious where the story was going, the journey was sweet and a pleasure to read.

There are - at the edges of your vision some of the dots appear black. When you move your eyes to 'see' them, they disappear. That's why, as Drew says, it's impossible to do.

Wow! A complex, dark, violent story packed into so few words. Not a tale for a spot of light reading, but it had me gripped pretty much from the off, reading closely while also dealing with my own emotions concerning abusive relationships and the whole area of bdsm. Friendship was another theme which sparked off thoughts as I read. Is murder ever justified? The answer here is certainly, Yes!

I started to read this and then got distracted (I'm easily distracted ). There's just too much good, inviting stuff here So, I must exercise more self-discipline in future...!

Wow! What an amazing piece of writing which totally messed with my head. Once the deception was revealed, I had to go back to the beginning a couple of times so that I could understand the full effect of your word play. His view of himself was honest and unflinching; I was very happy that in the end he could not only accept who he was but revel in it.

I can only ever look on from the outside for this subject as I'm not a writer. I respect Cole's wish for personalised tributes but I think this will be difficult to achieve. Relatives of the dead may not want to give the details necessary; the living may not want to be that directly involved and trying to match authors with people would I think, be very tricky. Having 102 pieces written about the tragedy as a whole or focussing on particular aspects would be more possible. Would it be a virtual collection or would it have a physical component? Anything involving an actual print run is going to involve a substantial financial commitment and as W_L comments, sponsors would have to be found. Or, crowdfunding might be a possibility? It would be a fitting tribute, perhaps to appear on the first anniversary? But this sort of project needs someone (or a small group) to take ownership and push it forward.

It may be short but it is very effective. It's not Narnia but an alternative universe with a preferred life (and a preferred lover?). A strong sense of paths not taken. What would the woman see?

Maybe we should move this idea into a new thread where it will be more visible?

Written with such fiery, proud defiance. Profoundly moving. It was a privilege to be able to read this.

For those who died, other lives continuing to be lived to the full and being celebrated and accepted is the only response. For those who survived, I hope they will continue their lives without guilt. For those who were bereaved, I am at a loss to imagine their pain and suffering.

The triumph of hope over experience? It has to (somehow) otherwise life would be miserable. Music has such a powerful pull on emotions - wanted and unwanted. I'm glad Imagine is providing you with some solace and hope, Carlos. Best wishes, again!

Not only does the have the best tunes, he has the best characters. Depicting 'goodness' is tricky and I found myself siding with the stroppy, uncouth, mouthy imp. Bureaucracy is hell; hell is bureaucracy – I loved this aspect particularly! The partnership is unlikely but, as these things usually work, they gradually work together better. I enjoyed this immensely - more, please!

I loved this. The back chat and literal-mindedness of the imp had me reading with a broad grin. The games seemed provoking and impish but not malevolent until suddenly Druella finds the tables turned. Moreish!

It is pretty obvious that the box is significant: valuable, curious, old? When it is opened, a tale is told through objects: of an attraction (love?) not acted upon. Who'd kept the things? Johnny? If so, why hadn't he used the train ticket but still kept it? Gary and I were left to ponder on what might have been. The choice of things and how they each contributed to that story was so well done (I particularly liked the snake …). A parallel between the two couples was subtly highlighted. Were there others?

What a disparate collection of things you had to include...! And include them you did in a funny, sweet tale which made me smile and was a perfect antidote to the last horror-filled, grim story I'd read.

I started reading this late at night – I'm so glad I only skim-read it. My dreams would have been anything but peaceful. Your writing glued my eyes to the page – even the most graphic, sickening descriptions held me, fascinated, wanting to know what happened next. The interlude in the stables was almost cruel – was there hope? Of course not! A dark, gothic, cruel tale very well told.

An atmosphere of dissatisfaction, passive-aggressive manipulation and the souring of personal relationships pervades much of this story. It was so easy for me as an observer to urge Elliot to do something about it ('Why don't you …'). Of course it's never like that and I could sense that Elliot would dither and put off any decision, possibly for a long time. My stomach lurched in sympathy with his at the pivotal point of the story but it forced him to consider his future and come up with a Plan B – one which finally allowed him to follow his interests and his new-found love. I wasn't sure he would succeed, right up until the end – which made it all the sweeter!

Ahhhhhh! *sighs contentedly* Bravo! *salutes author* You've certainly been able to mess with my emotions over the last few chapters!

I read two late last night - too late to have the brain to write reviews. I'll be back later.