Harlan Covington

They came while we slept. Margaret woke to a sound she couldn’t quite place—a faint creak of floorboards

Laughter Through Hurt Margaret Elizabeth placed a bowl of beef stew in front of her granddaughter and

**The Third Room – Not for Guests** “Don’t you dare go in there!” snapped Margaret Williams, rushing

“Beyond the Wall—Not Silence” “Martha, turn down that bloody telly!”

Nina Petrovna stood by the window, her palm pressed against the cold glass, watching as old Tom the caretaker

The Neighbour Knew Too Much “Eleanor! Eleanor Whitmore, wait!” shouted their neighbour, Peter Wilson

She arrived first. Margaret Wilson woke at five in the morning, as always. The habit of forty years at

Oh my gosh, can you believe what my sister did? I just found out and I’m still shaking. “

— No, Emma, you don’t understand! I can’t go on like this! — Martha grabbed her friend’s wrist, squeezing

UNLIKELY HAPPINESS “Mum, the only way left for us to have a child is IVF. William and I have made