Talking to the Birds

The morsels and treats she placed in the garden were always left - untouched.

In the kitchen, Flo imitated the noises the birds made in words. ‘Not much longer, not much longer.’

She stirred the porridge for him, adding just a smidgen of Thallium powder, each day.

‘No more beatings, no more beatings.’

They said that she was ‘talking to the birds’ and it was is if the birds knew first of her intentions.

There are forces in this world that remain unseen and unheard,’ she muttered, ‘and forces you’ll never understand,’ she said, carrying his porridge up to him, dutifully.