Before the Wedding

"At first, Leila’s not sure what the woman is running from. The woman staggers for a few feet and then walks in turn, looking behind her to the street’s end as she slows. She has a red scarf wrapped around her neck, one end trailing like a ribbon. The straps of a black leather bag clasped loosely in her right hand. She looks smart in the way all London women look smart to Leila, as if they always rise a bit earlier, spend the time picking through a tray of earrings and rolling the lint off their coats. Leila watches the woman get closer and hears her breathing heavily, letting out a high, pained sound that only children make."

“Before the Wedding" was published in Gulf Coast. It's about infidelity and an act of terror. To read the full story, you can purchase the issue on their site.