Submissions by Lozzamus
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I compare poetry to painting, believing that I lack any drawing/painting skills but believing my imagination and training in writing has enabled me to transfer my love of visual art to the written word
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
22nd Mar 2024 7:14pm
22nd Mar 2024 7:14pm
Silent - Searching In Despair
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Missing you xxx Philippa had texted.
The compulsory morning session over, I caught another taxi back to the House. Philippa wasn't in her room.
Where are you? I texted.
I searched through the grounds, my eyes playing tricks on me from the heat and lack of sleep. I hurried past the water fountains, through the landscaped gardens, the weather getting muggier.
Down the grassy mound and round the back to the Remembrance Garden, sweat pouring from my forehead and face, onto my t-shirt. Along the driveway in the clammy...
Missing you xxx Philippa had texted.
The compulsory morning session over, I caught another taxi back to the House. Philippa wasn't in her room.
Where are you? I texted.
I searched through the grounds, my eyes playing tricks on me from the heat and lack of sleep. I hurried past the water fountains, through the landscaped gardens, the weather getting muggier.
Down the grassy mound and round the back to the Remembrance Garden, sweat pouring from my forehead and face, onto my t-shirt. Along the driveway in the clammy...
#love
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
111 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
16th Mar 2024 6:32pm
16th Mar 2024 6:32pm
Silent - A Stern Warning
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I woke up on the floor again, momentarily confused. Yawning, Philippa headed to the showers. She returned, and I went for a shower next. Later, we walked down to the breakfast cafeteria, conscious of the icy silence that fell the moment we entered the room. Dawn left as soon as she could without drawing attention to herself, and one of the other pianists followed and caught up with her, throwing me a filthy look at the door.
Another girl had taken Lucy's place behind the hatch. Blonde. Similar to Lucy but different. Philippa and I grabbed...
I woke up on the floor again, momentarily confused. Yawning, Philippa headed to the showers. She returned, and I went for a shower next. Later, we walked down to the breakfast cafeteria, conscious of the icy silence that fell the moment we entered the room. Dawn left as soon as she could without drawing attention to herself, and one of the other pianists followed and caught up with her, throwing me a filthy look at the door.
Another girl had taken Lucy's place behind the hatch. Blonde. Similar to Lucy but different. Philippa and I grabbed...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
123 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
8th Mar 2024 7:08pm
8th Mar 2024 7:08pm
Silent - Danger
The Present, Lucy
The walls are caving in, the darkness suffocating her, thick smog, like the smoke from the fire. Her parents' killer is close by, tormenting her with mind games, pretending to be the father of her half-brother Pete Whittaker, Katie's son.
I'm never going to get out of here.
In the corridor, footsteps sound again. She waits, no longer afraid of the Angel of Mercy. She must fool him. She must pretend she's prepared to do what he says, and then hurt him when he relaxes. Or she must feign illness and injure him that way. Two years ago, she...
The walls are caving in, the darkness suffocating her, thick smog, like the smoke from the fire. Her parents' killer is close by, tormenting her with mind games, pretending to be the father of her half-brother Pete Whittaker, Katie's son.
I'm never going to get out of here.
In the corridor, footsteps sound again. She waits, no longer afraid of the Angel of Mercy. She must fool him. She must pretend she's prepared to do what he says, and then hurt him when he relaxes. Or she must feign illness and injure him that way. Two years ago, she...
#memories
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
132 reads
6 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
28th Feb 2024 7:15pm
28th Feb 2024 7:15pm
Silent - Return To The House (4)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
'What was all that about' I said when Arthur Harlesden went downstairs.
'He was lying,' Lucy said. 'There's no way Veronica would let someone on
drugs roam around. She didn't warn you when you went in earlier, did she?'
'No.'
'Which proves my point. Arthur's up to someone. There's no one on the premises at all. He's
so shifty and secretive. I'm going after him.'
'Are you sure you want to do that?'
'Totally sure. I'm going to find out what's going on. I'll wait by the bungalow, where his car...
'What was all that about' I said when Arthur Harlesden went downstairs.
'He was lying,' Lucy said. 'There's no way Veronica would let someone on
drugs roam around. She didn't warn you when you went in earlier, did she?'
'No.'
'Which proves my point. Arthur's up to someone. There's no one on the premises at all. He's
so shifty and secretive. I'm going after him.'
'Are you sure you want to do that?'
'Totally sure. I'm going to find out what's going on. I'll wait by the bungalow, where his car...
#relationships
#mystery
#risk
157 reads
5 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
21st Feb 2024 7:03pm
21st Feb 2024 7:03pm
Silent - Return To The House (3)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Scared of an old man? You'd think, no way. But believe me, hearing that voice on the stairs really freaked us out because it was so unexpected.
Thick darkness of the storage room.
And then the door opening, letting in light.
Lucy's face has gone chalky pale. As if she was ill or something.
'Oh,' Arthur Harlesden said. 'I was looking for someone. I thought they might be in here.'
'Oh,' I echoed. 'Yeah, right.'
'I was looking for one of the young apprentices from Terence's...
Scared of an old man? You'd think, no way. But believe me, hearing that voice on the stairs really freaked us out because it was so unexpected.
Thick darkness of the storage room.
And then the door opening, letting in light.
Lucy's face has gone chalky pale. As if she was ill or something.
'Oh,' Arthur Harlesden said. 'I was looking for someone. I thought they might be in here.'
'Oh,' I echoed. 'Yeah, right.'
'I was looking for one of the young apprentices from Terence's...
#secrets
#mystery
#risk
130 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
31st Jan 2024 7:25pm
31st Jan 2024 7:25pm
Silent - Return To The House (2)
Two Years Ago, Lucy
Suddenly, she got the impression that someone was watching her from an upstairs window, looking beyond the clump of tree trunk, directly at her. She peered up, certain that the person was standing there, staring down from the top floor where Agnes was currently staying in a double apartment. But she couldn't see anyone.
The entrance door opened. Gavin. 'It's not too bad, but we'll have to be quick. Veronica's round the back with this lad I've not seen before. I told her I'd come back because I wasn't feeling well. We go straight in and up the...
Suddenly, she got the impression that someone was watching her from an upstairs window, looking beyond the clump of tree trunk, directly at her. She peered up, certain that the person was standing there, staring down from the top floor where Agnes was currently staying in a double apartment. But she couldn't see anyone.
The entrance door opened. Gavin. 'It's not too bad, but we'll have to be quick. Veronica's round the back with this lad I've not seen before. I told her I'd come back because I wasn't feeling well. We go straight in and up the...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
93 reads
0 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
24th Jan 2024 6:52pm
24th Jan 2024 6:52pm
Silent, Return To The House (1)
Two Years Ago, Lucy
They asked the cab driver to drop them off at the entrance to the private driveway. She hadn't told Gavin everything. She couldn't bring herself to mention her half-brother Pete, her visits to Katie Whittaker or Veronica's phone call to Steve concerning yesterday afternoon at the bungalow.
'So what have you got in mind?' Gavin asked her on the walk down the drive.
'If I can get into the reception without Veronica spotting me, I hope to break into the main computer system and email the files to my address. Then I can read them later.' ...
They asked the cab driver to drop them off at the entrance to the private driveway. She hadn't told Gavin everything. She couldn't bring herself to mention her half-brother Pete, her visits to Katie Whittaker or Veronica's phone call to Steve concerning yesterday afternoon at the bungalow.
'So what have you got in mind?' Gavin asked her on the walk down the drive.
'If I can get into the reception without Veronica spotting me, I hope to break into the main computer system and email the files to my address. Then I can read them later.' ...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
126 reads
5 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
15th Jan 2024 7:34pm
15th Jan 2024 7:34pm
Silent, A Unexpected Encounter
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I went on stage next.
'Let's start again,' Agnes said, a minute or two into the Chopin Scherzo. 'Your mind's on something else today' – yeah, like Philippa – 'wake up, please, and play the piece as it's meant to be played. You'll be performing this before an audience on Friday lunchtime, so I would like to hear a performance now.'
***
Everyone planned to head into town for lunch. After my session with Agnes Harlesden, I decided to slip away and get a taxi back to the House.
I started towards the taxi rank on the main...
I went on stage next.
'Let's start again,' Agnes said, a minute or two into the Chopin Scherzo. 'Your mind's on something else today' – yeah, like Philippa – 'wake up, please, and play the piece as it's meant to be played. You'll be performing this before an audience on Friday lunchtime, so I would like to hear a performance now.'
***
Everyone planned to head into town for lunch. After my session with Agnes Harlesden, I decided to slip away and get a taxi back to the House.
I started towards the taxi rank on the main...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
131 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
6th Jan 2024 7:01pm
6th Jan 2024 7:01pm
Silent, The Beethoven Sonata
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I hadn't been back to the Grand Theatre since Sunday, two days ago, and didn't know what to expect. In the auditorium, I scanned the seats for signs of Philippa. She hadn't arrived.
I sat in between a couple of students I hadn't spoken to yet and averted my eyes when I passed Dawn. The auditorium seemed pretty empty today, unlike on Sunday morning when Philippa had got angry in class. I felt uncomfortable, knowing that Agnes Harlesden and my former Russian Coach in London were friends and had probably discussed me at length.
Paul was on stage,...
I hadn't been back to the Grand Theatre since Sunday, two days ago, and didn't know what to expect. In the auditorium, I scanned the seats for signs of Philippa. She hadn't arrived.
I sat in between a couple of students I hadn't spoken to yet and averted my eyes when I passed Dawn. The auditorium seemed pretty empty today, unlike on Sunday morning when Philippa had got angry in class. I felt uncomfortable, knowing that Agnes Harlesden and my former Russian Coach in London were friends and had probably discussed me at length.
Paul was on stage,...
#music
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
150 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
21st Dec 2023 7:27pm
21st Dec 2023 7:27pm
Silent - The Girlfriend (2)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I suppose I should have paid more attention to the signs around me, for Philippa seemed flustered and in a hurry to leave when she woke, like she couldn't wait to get away. And later, when I headed to the communal bathroom, I caught sight of the mentor Dawn staring at me with such hostility, it scared me. That was the first time I'd seen her since the party on Sunday evening and I knew I'd really hurt her.
Breakfast. Pretty quiet. No sign of Philippa, Aidan, Dawn. No sign of the blonde waitress, Lucy Harlesden. No hot plate. Just Paul, the...
I suppose I should have paid more attention to the signs around me, for Philippa seemed flustered and in a hurry to leave when she woke, like she couldn't wait to get away. And later, when I headed to the communal bathroom, I caught sight of the mentor Dawn staring at me with such hostility, it scared me. That was the first time I'd seen her since the party on Sunday evening and I knew I'd really hurt her.
Breakfast. Pretty quiet. No sign of Philippa, Aidan, Dawn. No sign of the blonde waitress, Lucy Harlesden. No hot plate. Just Paul, the...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
140 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
13th Dec 2023 6:14pm
13th Dec 2023 6:14pm
Silent, The Girlfriend (1)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Someone was knocking on my door again. 'Gavin? Can you open the door, please? I need to talk to you.'
'Go away, Philippa.'
'I'm so sorry about earlier. Aidan and I aren't going out. Aidan always gets the wrong impression and thinks girls are interested in him when they're not. He has serious issues. Please open the door. I need to talk to you.' She sounded just like Lucy a few minutes earlier.
Eventually, the door knocking got too much, so I jumped out of bed and answered. 'I nearly got battered because of you,' I said,...
Someone was knocking on my door again. 'Gavin? Can you open the door, please? I need to talk to you.'
'Go away, Philippa.'
'I'm so sorry about earlier. Aidan and I aren't going out. Aidan always gets the wrong impression and thinks girls are interested in him when they're not. He has serious issues. Please open the door. I need to talk to you.' She sounded just like Lucy a few minutes earlier.
Eventually, the door knocking got too much, so I jumped out of bed and answered. 'I nearly got battered because of you,' I said,...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
118 reads
6 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
6th Dec 2023 7:14pm
6th Dec 2023 7:14pm
Silent, A Tense Encounter (2)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Too much. Jace, Steve, Aidan howling like a child, and now the girl in the hood shouting at me too. I pretended I needed the toilet and climbed through the window space again, cutting my finger on the nail, conscious of the hoodie screaming more obscenities after me from inside the building. It was pretty light outside, breezy but muggy. My heart was hammering in my chest. I tiptoed round the back and climbed over a fence, tearing through hedges and branches on all fours, into a field, my jeans and trainers getting plastered with mud, my hands getting stung...
Too much. Jace, Steve, Aidan howling like a child, and now the girl in the hood shouting at me too. I pretended I needed the toilet and climbed through the window space again, cutting my finger on the nail, conscious of the hoodie screaming more obscenities after me from inside the building. It was pretty light outside, breezy but muggy. My heart was hammering in my chest. I tiptoed round the back and climbed over a fence, tearing through hedges and branches on all fours, into a field, my jeans and trainers getting plastered with mud, my hands getting stung...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
152 reads
4 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Lozzamus
