Beyond the Crushing Waves

by Bronwen Pratley

It’d always been him and Mother. They were a team. There was no one else. No aunts, uncles, cousins, or grandparents. Just Harry and Mother — and when they were together, the world was right and good and pure. When they were apart, everything seemed bleak. Even a bowl of blackberry pudding soured in his mouth when he missed her.

Perhaps that was the key to finding happiness. Perhaps he should simply let it all go

It’s a hard thing, to live without love. Like a tree without sunlight, or a flower without water.