X approached the fairground much the same as she’d done the night before. Only a single day had passed, yet to her, it felt like a lifetime. As the animals moved between the oblivious faces going back and forth between the numerous rides and food stalls, she clutched a tired Bertie who gave a muffled meow before burying his nose into her armpit. Herbie meanwhile was a source of endless energy and was doing his best to climb a stall selling the cotton candy that had lured them from miles away. Scooping him up, she placed him upon her shoulder before grabbing a handful of the whispery, pink sugar without the vendor noticing. Taking a bite from it herself, she gave the rest to her faithful friend, and the second Herbie’s tongue touched the magical treat, he squeaked as loud as he could before doing his best to devour the lot.

Smiling at the sight of him stuffing the candy into his cheeks, the music pulled her in as it always had. She wasn’t sure of the band nor the song but recognised it as one her father played to her when she was a little girl. Swaying from side to side, she clicked her fingers and took one step at a time. The ground was warm, and as her bare feet glided across the broken asphalt, flowers burst through the cracks and bloomed in the time it took her to twist her hips to the beat. Rising into the coming night air, she might’ve floated away if it wasn’t for a mindful doggy who jumped up and grabbed a mouthful of her dress before pulling her down. Patting him on his obedient, doggy head, she eyed up the spinning wheel as it dominated the skyline. It was here that the old world met the new world, and what once was would be again. Breathing in deeply, she let the neon light wash over her and became a neon angel, and as her light shone onto those nearby, she searched the crowd for the one who owned her soul.

A Journal for Damned Lovers UK

A Journal for Damned Lovers US

Anthology UK / Anthology US