Winner: ‘A Letter to my Plastic Daughter’ by Ruth Atkins

“Plastic,” the doctor repeated sternly. “In the placenta.” His voice was a low bass rumble, barely audible over the machines. The midwife ceased sliding her jelly over me. I lay tense, my fingers clenched beneath my buttocks, my moon-belly rising, convex and white above the bed. It was unseasonably warm, and inside me, your kicksContinue reading “Winner: ‘A Letter to my Plastic Daughter’ by Ruth Atkins”

Runner Up: ‘The Sound’ by Rachel Handley

We didn’t realise, at first, that the plants were singing. We mistook the sound for a scream. Each day the noise increased. A news channel quickly made a gimmick filled segment on local plant sounds – The Sounds of Towns – and people would send in recordings. It took longer for the city folk toContinue reading “Runner Up: ‘The Sound’ by Rachel Handley”

Runner Up: ‘I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW IF THE CORRECT TERM IS SEEDS OR STONES’ by Deirbhile Brennan

Does anyone know what happens to those seeds in the corner? Yeah, the avocado  seeds. They’ve honestly just been sitting there for the last five months since I moved into this  apartment. They stare out at the kitchen: dry, cracking eyeballs, patient and biding their time.  I know you’re supposed to put them in waterContinue reading “Runner Up: ‘I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW IF THE CORRECT TERM IS SEEDS OR STONES’ by Deirbhile Brennan”