Strange

And that was it. 
He got up and grabbed 
her tabby cat 
and made for the door. 
She grabbed a paring knife 
and chased him 
down the hallway 
of her apartment building. 
It was strange. 
No one said anything. 
It happened in near silence. 
He ran with the cat. She chased him, 
clutching a yellow-handled paring knife.

Artwork by Charlie Riddle

David Romanda lives in Kawasaki City, Japan. His work has appeared in places such as Gargoyle Magazine, The Louisville Review, The Main Street Rag, PANK, and Puerto del Sol. His book is the broken bird feeder (Trouble Department, 2022).

Charlie Riddle enjoys exploring ordinary life and everyday stories, as well as finding strange and humorous things in unexpected places. Riddle’s work ranges from children’s books to animations inspired by Northumberland and North East culture in the UK. Follow them on IG @charlieriddleillustration