Selina De Luca

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash CLOCKWORK By Selina De Luca An original piece of short fiction written for the Literary Taxidermy 2020 writing competition by Regulus Press and shortlisted as a runner-up. The story uses the first and last line from the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley but otherwise has nothing to do with Huxley's work. (Trigger warning: infant loss/miscarriage)      A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories and beshadowed beneath surrounding high-rises, 801 Perry Street was effectively invisible. Passing drivers sprayed puddles across its front steps, which did little to wash away the pigeon defecation and cigarette butts. A spray-painted expletive above the doorway, faded from the rain, provided the only colour in sight.      Brooke was also effectively invisible with her grey skirt, brown coat, and umbrella as she splashed her way up the steps of 801 Perry Street for another day of work. If you looked closely you would s...

(These stories are fairly cheesy but they fit into the typical genre of Christmas romance stories since Hallmark, Netflix etc Christmas stories are also cheesy ;) These were written about ten years ago.) Lily’s Love Story By Selina De Luca Written between 2009-2013           “It’s quite something, Lily.  I think you’d like it.” I took another bite of Elly’s lemon meringue pie. “I’m sure I would, Pete,” I replied.  “Tell me more about it.” It was Saturday.  I was at the Kowdies’ home, like every Saturday night.  Pete and Elly and their daughter Carly had become, in a very short time, as dear to me as my own family. But Carly and Elly had more interesting things to talk about than the books, plays, and musicals Pete and I raved over. “You are coming to the barbecue party tomorrow, Liliana, eh?” “I wouldn’t miss it for anything, Elly,” I assured her. “My cousin will be there,” Carly drawled with a teasing smile.  I grinne...

(These stories are fairly cheesy but they fit into the typical genre of Christmas romance stories since Hallmark, Netflix etc Christmas stories are also cheesy ;) These were written about ten years ago.) Anna's Romantic Evening by Selina De Luca Written between 2009-2013 Photo by  freestocks  on  Unsplash The house looked beautiful.  Anna had spent hours cleaning and tidying, decorating for Christmas, and preparing the perfect supper for Jem when he got home.  Anna could hear wind shrieking and the snow rattling on the windows, and she knew Jem would be happy to come home to his wife and the cozy fire, with all the romance and Christmassy-ness Anna anticipated.  The tree was all decorated with coloured lights and various ornaments, which shone with a dim but warm glow in the firelight.  Anna hung a mistletoe in the doorway with a hint of a smile on her pixie-like features, but she did not dare put the angel on the top of the tree without her husband,...