Paul Andrew Sneddon

The Work

The boiler sounded like a lung collapsing. My mouth was dry and the headache pulsed around my skull. I looked out in the darkness and back to my phone. 10:39am. No bars. Just the orange glow of the street light. I caught a glimpse of myself; the surface of the mirror shifted. The colours bledContinue reading “The Work”

Hometown Blues

Back home for a few days.Going for a beer. The pub we started our pub crawls in is now flats.The bar we met in is now a nursery.The place we went for our first date is too. Whole town gave up the booze.Started making babies.Cut out the middle part. Must be something in the water.Continue reading “Hometown Blues”

Me and the Rain

Open the window at 4am.Listen to the rainfalling on the window. The street.The parked cars.The garden chairI left out last night. Sit in the glowof the streetlight. Just listen. Hear a car race up the street.Too fast. Then it fades. And I’m left with the soundof the rain. The smell drifting inthrough the window. PickContinue reading “Me and the Rain”

River

Content warning: this piece contains themes of depression and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:Samaritans — 116 123 (UK, 24/7, free)International crisis lines — http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ A story about survival. — Paul The wind cuts across the field.The old gatehouse shadowed against the dying sun. Not a soul here.Continue reading “River”

Night Shift

Eddie drove down the main road, music playing loud. He was sure he was the only guy in Ayrshire playing 90s rock down the back roads. Definitely the only one still using CDs. What was it they called his favourite bands now? Classic rock. Fuck off. Jean had been saying,“Why not just go the wholeContinue reading “Night Shift”