The Next Chapter Room

Tag: short-story

  • The Taniwha Beneath.

    The Taniwha Beneath.

    —

    by

    Harper Leigh
    in

    The taniwha first appeared on the motorway home. Not beside her.Not ahead of her. Beneath her. Beneath the rhythm of tyres over wet Auckland asphalt.Beneath the fluorescent blur of service stations and red brake lights stretching endlessly toward the city.Beneath the women laughing in the back seat.Beneath the text messages left unanswered.Beneath the steady competent…

  • The Ambiguous Ghost

    The Ambiguous Ghost

    —

    by

    Harper Leigh
    in

    The ghost is not fully formed. The possibility of it is there. I sense it before I see anything. Not a presence exactly. More of a shift. The room feels slightly less empty than it should. The light holds longer in the corners. The air pauses, as if waiting to be noticed. When I look,…

  • The Party

    The Party

    —

    by

    Harper Leigh
    in

    It was almost exactly a year ago. We had just reconnected after a few weeks apart.The distance came from another party.A rupture.One where he had been inappropriate with another woman in front of me. Still, I was hopeful. It was his younger daughter’s party.I arrived early, at his house first. A small pre-gathering before the…

  • The Frosted Glass Kiosk.

    The Frosted Glass Kiosk.

    —

    by

    Harper Leigh
    in

    The kiosk was made of frosted glass. You could see the outline of the person inside.A shape moving.Hands arranging something.A silhouette leaning forward when someone approached. From the outside, it felt safe.Contained.Orderly. She worked inside it. People came up to the small opening at the counter.Ordered what they needed.Exchanged a few polite words.Moved on. She…