The Forgotten Island

by David Sodergren

‘Even in death, a man should have his dignity,’ she whispered as she wept alone by his bedside later that night.

As for Koh Wai Island? Well, it’s still there, though you won’t find it on any maps, the Thai government having quietly had it stricken from existence after the first and second rescue teams failed to return.

And whatever Prachya saw that day remained there, undisturbed, patient as death itself. Waiting.

Going on holiday to a warm climate was the cruellest fate a good book could possibly face.

Bangkok wasn’t just a city that never slept; it was a city that never shut up.

‘Well I’m not mad, thank you. The voices in my head would have told me if I was,’ she said curtly and he laughed and held out his hand.

‘You need to get your tits out,’ said Ana, not looking up from her book. ‘Excuse me?’ ‘Best way to get served, apparently.’ ‘Yeah well, I don’t look good in a bikini.’

She reckons she’s a fucking psychiatrist, but really she’s just seen too many episodes of Frasier.’

‘I’m sure you would. Thing is, she’s about eighteen and bounces in all the right places. When I move, it’s more than just my tits that wobble. I wouldn’t want to have put anyone through that.’ ‘I wouldn’t mind,’ squeaked Ricky, his voice breaking mid-sentence.

Rachel arrived with the drinks and saw Ana’s glum expression. ‘There it is,’ she said. ‘The face where smiles go to die.’

‘Guys…if I was to eat myself…would I disappear…or become twice as big?’

Hope. Ha! Hope was just an acceptable lie people told themselves to get through the day.

‘Aye. To being a wee kid. Back when you were allowed to be stupid and silly and not care about anything. Before the reality of adulthood crushes your childhood dreams and you realise you can’t grow up to be an astronaut or a princess or a unicorn.’