© Neil Hayes and neilhayeswrites
Mind in turmoil, spiralling out of control.
Tired and numb, brain seems fogged.
Confusion, difficult to focus on reality.
Through these blinding lights, no focus.
This fire needs to be extinguished.
Emergency!
Seek help.
Ensure that every glowing ember has died.
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
Detaching from our hectic world is of utmost importance and is only becoming more so. It is certainly not easy; it takes a conscious effort since all those clever algorithms are getting better and better at pulling us into their web.
So, how do you know when you need to step away from the world, or even if you have a problem, especially with social media? The latter is probably easier to see. If there is ever a time, when I find over an hour, has disappeared from my life and it was totally wasted, then I know that it is time for action. For me, that means deleting the apps from my phone for a week. They are already hidden away on the furthest screen but sometimes they must take a holiday altogether.
Continue reading “Unplugging”
Phil is walking back along the main road, toward Leah’s house. He decides to go through the back lane and enter her garden. A short hop over the wooden fence and he is there. As he approaches the back door of the house he can see her stirring something in the frying pan. She is glancing occasionally at the front door, no doubt expecting Rob to arrive at any minute.
He watches her for a few more minutes and he can see that she is beginning to get concerned. He decides that there is no more point in waiting, she will be his now, and then they can both be happy together. But not just them, it will take three to be complete, the lady of the forest is awaiting them.
Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: The End”
He doesn’t deserve her, she belongs to me. How could she think he is better than me?” He thinks.
He is walking along the main road that leads to their street, looking determined, angry, and scary. People who see him go across to the other side of the road. One young man, who doesn’t want to appear intimidated, makes the mistake of attempting a game of chicken. Phil sees him coming towards him, lowers his shoulder and charges. The young man falls to the ground.
“Watch where you are going asshole!” screams Phil.
Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 18”
I am back in the damp and the dark. The difference this time is that I can move, and I am happy. It feels like I am home. The love I have been looking for my whole life is here, it is pouring through my body. Every self-help book that I have ever read has told me different ways of how to get to that place, but I have somehow found it on my own, by accident.
“Welcome, Phil.”
Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 17”
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