Emily Taylor

“What rubbish, Susan!” John slapped the paper onto the table, banging his fist on the wood. “

Already in my dressing gown, I was brushing my hair when the phone rang. Its shrill tone shattered the

I had been married four years, and all that while, my husband had been the very picture of a perfect

The phone shattered the silence after dusk, a piercing sound like snapping twigs. Margaret Peterson stood

The Ruinous Gift “Sylvia! Sylvia, where are you?” Colin’s voice strained from the parlour. “Come quick!

Elaine! Elaine, where are you? Nigel’s voice strained from the living room. Get in here! Important news!

Today I stood before the mirror in my white dress, utterly bewildered by how things had unfolded.

Victor retreated yet drew nearer always. “Don’t you dare lecture me!” Margaret’s voice

Emily stood staring at herself in the mirror, the perfect white dress clinging to her frame, feeling

“Are you serious?” Vlad’s voice wavered, though not from surprise—more from the effort of