Wine-careless, you try to wipe
tacky, viscous stuff off our soiled floor.
Still my feet stick. I can bear no more.
I begged you to take more care when spilling
nourishing meals, everything
I’ve ever cooked for you.
Now I know, with your plummy Rioja
you prefer snacks, salty and sweet, rather than
balanced main courses. Our fridge is rank,
full of leftovers, things you’ll throw out
eventually. Wasted food, lost hours.
I realise I must leave, take my recipes
elsewhere. Become a hermit –
sipping dry Muscadet, alone,
if that’s the way it has to be.
Against my will, my tired eyes leak:
still, my feet stick
to our floor.
This post is brought to you by
The Odds Against a Starry Cosmos
by Abby Bland
The Odds Against a Starry Cosmos explores the intimacy of human relationship and growth against the backdrop of the natural world, moving through moments of grace, brokenness, and wonder.
About The Author
Ceinwen lives near Newcastle and writes short stories and poetry. She has been published widely, in online magazines and printed anthologies. Her first chapbook, Cerddi Bach, was published in July 2019. She is a Pushcart Prize and Forward Prize nominee and holds an MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University. She believes everyone’s voice counts.
Bandit Fiction is an entirely not-for-profit organisation ran by passionate volunteers. We do our best to keep costs low, but we rely on the support of our readers and followers to be able to do what we do. The best way to support us is by purchasing one of our back issues. All issues are ‘pay what you want’, and all money goes directly towards paying operational costs.
bandit. 
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