Saturday Morning in Venice by Marina Fitzgerald Selby © 2014. Marina Fitzgerald Selby is a photographer originally from France who has been living in Ireland for 20 years. People are her favourite subjects. She loves the solitary moments of street photography and unexpected encounters with all kinds of people. Her images are raw, barely edited, and allow for the true smells of life. She is drawn to the beauty of common objects and scenes of everyday life. You can contact her at marina.fitzgeraldselby@gmail.com

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Because I am not… by Pauline Masurel

Not going bloody quietly.  I want to go out with bells and cymbals and plenty of rat-a-tat-tat. I told him when we first got the diagnosis. None of your Clanad or Enya for me, thank you very much. Nothing humble. Play me out with bagpipes or Def Leppard. Something loud and unholy.

So he planned it and even started paying by instalments. He showed me the order of service one day when I started getting maudlin. No wig, no lippy, still in my pyjamas. I even managed a smile and a dunked biscuit after that.

Now it’s all over I don’t believe I’m well again. Can’t believe I’m not going. Not bloody quietly. Or even loudly. Because I’m not. But he is, he’s going.  Because I am not…

Pauline Masurel is a gardener and short fiction writer who lives in South Gloucestershire. She never wears lipstick. Her short stories and flash fiction have been published in anthologies, featured online and broadcast on Radio 4. She has performed her work live in many venues, particularly in the Bristol and Bath areas. You can find out more about her here and you can follow her on Twitter @unfurlingnet.

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