I learnt something about flatworms the other day and it spawned this idea. Deeper research suggests that what I learnt wasn't entirely true, but then I suspect that the same can be said for pretty much all the other science references here. Hopefully you'll enjoy the story even so...

A bereavement, a suitcase full of secrets, a letter. Sometimes the most unexpected things change lives. Whether for better or for worse depends on the decisions we make.

Then he meets an attractive young woman with startling green eyes. Maybe she'll change his luck, but how much?

There's a bit of crude language in this one, but other than that no caution necessary — unless of course you're allergic to controversy. I think I may have found a hornet's nest in this one and poked it with a stick. I'm looking forward to the comments on this one and hoping I don't upset anyone too much.

Scratch that earlier comment on the word count. MS Word put the initial value at just over 10,000 and I've since managed to bring the number down to 9,996.

Caution with this one — Hopefully the picture will give you some clues that it's not entirely wholesome in places. This one's a little bit horror. It's also more science fantasy than science fiction, so please don't get on my case about how impossible it all is.

Todd Rains has just arrived on a frontier world, looking for a place he can breath without being told when and where he's allowed to, but there's something a little off with this world. Is it the paradise he's been looking for or has he jumped out of the frying pan into a very hot fire?

He stood, surrounded by furs, breathing heavily and tasting moth balls on the stuffy air. As before, the coats reminded him of his mother, so many miles away, and he held one close against his cheek, enjoying the cool softness for a while as his racing pulse settled back to normal.

He listened for a moment, but there were no sounds from the other side of the wardrobe. The door gave with a quiet click when he pushed on it, allowing him to slip out unnoticed. All sorts of strange thoughts flew around like so many songbirds in the garden of his mind, and he ran off to find his brothers before one of them jumped up and frightened him again.

It's raining. Lucas is bored. He finds and old wardrobe and steps into it, and we all know that magical places can be found at the back of old wardrobes.

Lucas's curiosity was piqued. Mrs Macready had told them no-one lived in the house apart from her and the old professor, and yet here was someone totally unexpected. He made his way cautiously around the walkway towards her, ignoring her growing agitation. There was something familiar about her that he couldn't quite...

“Oh dear.”.

Melanie Ezell's big closet ultimate writer's challenge — Written From The Heart

Thanks to Wren Erendae Phoenix for editing/proofing.

“The rugby club is putting on a 'Top Of The League' ball next week to celebrate our success. The guys from yesterday were wondering if you'd like to be their dates for the night. That kind of includes you and Pete, Rich... er I mean Rachael. What do you say?”

Melanie Ezell's big closet ultimate writer's challenge — Written From The Heart

Thanks to Wren Erendae Phoenix for editing/proofing.

Pastor Mike turned up for me at the appointed hour. He noticed, but didn't comment as I swept my long skirt out of the maws of the car door. It looked like I was in for a longer conversation than I'd planned.

Melanie Ezell's big closet ultimate writer's challenge — Written From The Heart

Thanks to Wren Erendae Phoenix for editing/proofing.