I planted it in dark soil, watered it with tears of anger and hate. It grew around my heart and twisted round my soul. Ebony thorns tore wounds that no one could see. Inside I was bleeding. At last a dark rose bloomed. The scent of bitterness filled me completely.

David likes gardening and writing 50-word stories. He has most recently had work published in Helios QUarterly, Gnu Magazine, The Machinery, Three Drops From the Cauldron, Summer Fling – Tales of Seduction, Short Tale 100, Blink-Ink, and 50-Word Stories.