Walton Merritt

**Diary Entry 12th March** In a busy London street, where towering buildings jostled for space beneath

In the darkest, most secluded corner of the municipal animal shelter, where even the flickering fluorescent

Laura was tidying up the kitchen, smoothing out the new floral-patterned tea towels, when her phone buzzed.

**Diary Entry 14th May** For seven years, James and I were married. From the day we said our vows, I

**The Light in the Darkness****Chapter 1: The Break**“Get out, you ungrateful girl!”

I stepped out into the rain with Michael in my arms, my shoes slipping on the wet pavement.

Emily stepped back into the presidential suite with her heart clenched tight. Everything felt familiar

Everyone fell silent when, among the guests, twelve tall men appeared, dressed in full naval ceremonial

Under the dim glow of a streetlamp near the Blackfriars Bridge in London, Emily Hartwell paused mid-step.

The air in the solicitor’s office smelled of musty leather and yellowed parchment. Emily perched