Uncategorized – Paul Andrew Sneddon

Timescale

Bed rest.Doctors orders. I’m 46. I’m on a timescale.I’ve got stuff to do. I get up and walk to the kitchen.Come back.30 minutes to recover. Fuck’s sake. I’m listening to Otis Gibbs.Stories of Townes and Guy. Window open.It was sunny 30 minutes ago.Now it’s raining. The ache in my chestreminds me of something.That slipped myContinue reading “Timescale”

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”

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”