The Dictionary of Lost Words

by Pip Williams

“Words change over time, you see. The way they look, the way they sound; sometimes even their meaning changes. They have their own history.”

“What does it mean?” “Consensus? Well, it means everyone agrees.” “Do you ask everyone?”

When I was with her I felt I might do something extraordinary. With her gone, I feared I never would.

“It’s not his place to forgive you, Essymay,” she whispered into my ear. “It’s no one’s but yours.”

It didn’t seem to matter to anyone that I was wandering around the composing room, and it occurred to me that the intimidation I always felt might have been of my own creation.

I cannot overstate the benefits of a busy day for an anxious mind or a lonely heart.

“Yeah. I reckon the only time any of us feel really safe is when our mum’s hugging us.”