CHAPTER 48
The SS were as good as their word, and half an hour after I had rung a young woman was being escorted into my sanctum. Khan was already there, Darren in his cell devouring the two mars bars I had bought for him. The social worker, Miss Armitage (‘call me Polly’) was straight to the point.

“Sergeant, what exactly brings you to believe that Darren is at risk?”

At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole
Chapter 25 Special Short Chapter

Mum left the door ajar and I could see them through the crack. I stood still and looked in the hall mirror. I looked OK but not perfect. We should have come on a better day when the weather was warmer. My legs were cold and my tights felt damp. My nose was red with the cold wind outside. No wonder girls are always turning up the heating in the office and wearing cardigans.

CHAPTER 47
I showered early the net morning, as I heard the strangulated sounds of a sleeping Ginny in the other room. I never saw any sign of ear plugs near Kate, and I could never understand how she was able to sleep so soundly as the world’s population of marine mammals surfaced around her.

At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole
Chapter 24 Building Friendships

Somewhat apprehensively I answered ‘Hi’

‘Where did you disappear to tonight we were just warming up?’

‘Sorry I was getting nervous and didn’t want to drink too much and be ill for work tomorrow. I said that because of the importance of my new job I was just being responsible.’

Switcheroo Issue 3

By Melanie E.

Louis wakes up to find his whole world has changed, again.

---

CHAPTER 46
How could I not want to wake up like this? Warm, sun easing through the tent, a robin singing sadly off in the hedge and the scent of bacon frying.

At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole
Chapter 23 Rescue Ranger

I looked past the bright headlights and it was my boss Kate Harper. She quickly beckoned me to get inside the car and then wound her window down to give the guys a piece of her mind as she drove off.

I was so relieved and yet I felt a cold shudder down my spine. ‘Put on your seatbelt. I thought it was you as I pulled out of the railway station’ she said. ‘What happened. Where are the others? What were you doing alone?’

CHAPTER 45
The beer was finished, our path home was trod, and Eric left me to get changed for bed in the tent as he wandered off to do his teeth. I settled down with Tabby and waited for him to slide in beside me, and he did, bringing a waft of cold knees and minty breath and a cuddle.

For three days,

I was myself

A woman

Accepted

“Just one of the girls”

I was called by my real name

I held down a job

I was whole,

At last

Then the door closed

And now

I am back to where I was

having to hide

and pretend I am a man.

With no choice

but to stagger along

With only the memory

Of three days in Heaven

To sustain me.