Tuesday 18 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - O is for Olivia

Welcome to Day 15 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. This month I'm sharing my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's O for Olivia.


Olivia cried herself to sleep every night. Six months Alistair had been gone, and still no word. She didn’t understand why the need for secrecy meant there could be no contact between a loving husband and wife. And the girls… well, they were remarkably resilient in the way that only kids could be. They were probably doing much better than she was. But something of the spark in their eyes was gone, and any mention of Daddy was sure to end in floods of tears.

But right now, there was something else to focus on. An email marked “urgent” had ordered her and all three girls to attend for an appointment at the new government-run clinic the very next day. She would have to pull them out of school. What would require such hastily arranged treatment?


Actually, she didn’t want to think about that.

14 comments:

moon said...

I feel for Olivia and her family . Intriguing snippet ! Wondering ....
Best wishes,
Moon
https://aslifehappens60.wordpress.com

JeffO said...

Yeah, that wouldn't seem like a good development.

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

What indeed... Intriguing :-) Happy A-to-Z-ing.

Darla M Sands said...

Chilling! And sad. ~sigh~ Well done.

http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That doesn't sound good.

Sophie Duncan said...

Uh-oh - that does not sound like it's an appointment that is going to end well.
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Uh-oh...
Also, Olivia is a great name. :)

The Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - well you are intriguing us ... poor Olivia - but I bet those kids are suffering too ... where and what is their father doing. Cheers Hilary

http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/o-is-for-orkney-islands-adapted-breeds.html

Sara C. Snider said...

I've got a bad feeling about this... Love the name Alistair. :)

A to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm sure it's not a good sign.

Carrie-Anne said...

I wouldn't want to think about that either!

Nilanjana Bose said...

I am going to be Optimistic here - maybe it's her husband's sending a message and he will meet her there, or arrange for her and the children to join him...maybe everything will turn out fine after all.


Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse

Keith's Ramblings said...

I wonder? A great cliffhanger Nick.

Amble Bay's Orchestra

Liz A. said...

Dun, dun, dun...