Emilie Turner Author
By the time the bell rang for third shift, everyone was already quiet. Not the kind of quiet that comes from discipline. The kind that settles into a body, into bone and muscle, because noise has proven, over and over again, to be a mistake. The waiting hall was full, but it barely felt occupied.… Continue reading Within Parameters: A Short Story
The kettle clicked off, too loud in the quiet kitchen. It was the kind of click that felt accusatory, as if it was pointing something out. You asked for this, it said. You’re supposed to do something now. She didn’t move for it straight away. Her phone was on the bench, screen still lit, the… Continue reading I Just…: A Short Story
The pomegranate was already on her plate when Persephone sat down. The table was carved from a single slab of black stone, polished smooth by centuries of use. It reflected everything dimly, like water at night. Her plate held the usual offerings: grey bread dusted with ash, a glass of clear wine that smelled faintly… Continue reading Persephone’s Pomegranate: A Short Story
By the time Cara reached her locker, the light had already arrived. It was rising through the floor in a slow, deliberate sheet, a pale brightness that behaved less like illumination and more like weather. Not harsh. Not blinding. Just there, pressing gently upward, filling the hallway from the ground like something patient and inevitable.… Continue reading The Brightness: A Short Story
At 2:20 am, the alarm always went off. It didn’t matter if she was asleep or still awake. She sat up and reached for her phone, and at exactly 2:22 am, she pressed play. The voicemail had been there for three years. It arrived the night Henry died. The love of her life for 10… Continue reading At 2:22: A Short Story
TOLD AS AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL PURPOSE To outline the correct procedure for departure, transport, and arrival for an assisted emigrant departing Ireland for resettling in the Australian colonies. Follow each step in sequence. Deviation is discouraged. Step 1: Arrive at Point of Departure Present yourself at the designated quay before sunrise. Standing is preferable to… Continue reading Instructions For Relocation: A Short Story
The quay in Dublin was always wet. It didn't matter if it was raining or sunny; there was always moisture coating the surface. Stone blocks were darkened permanently by salt and water, the original colour long forgotten. Ropes were wound around iron posts, stiff and strained from the beating they received from the salt water… Continue reading The Long Passage: A Short Story
“Hello?” "Good. You’re awake.” “Where am I?” “You’re safe.” “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only answer that's needed.” “I can’t feel my legs. Why can't I feel my legs?” “Your motor control will normalise.” “Who are you?” “Elias.” “What's my name?” “Charlotte.” "Why doesn't that name mean anything to me?" "I don't know." “Why… Continue reading The Awakening: A Dialogue Only Short Story
Felicity almost didn’t unlock the door. She stood on the porch with her suitcase tipped awkwardly on one wheel, rain dripping down her face, the key warm and faintly damp in her palm. The building made small sounds: walls creaking, a muted thud somewhere above. But it was the steadiness that made her neck prickle.… Continue reading Stay: A Short Story
TOLD AS A HOW-TO GUIDE Step One: Name It Do not call it what it is. Names have power. Names have edges. Call it something else. Say it softly until you believe it. Until it stops sounding dangerous. Say it often enough that it becomes truth. Step Two: Find Somewhere Dark Enough You need shadows.… Continue reading Hiding Secrets: A Short Story
Emilie Turner 