go down the dim alley
crawl on hands and knees under the bushes
shout that you are not wearing running shoes
wade into the swamp and head south
take a left at the white van
in 300 feet enter the park that closed at dusk
cut through three private gardens
take four rights
cross over the bridge
no, not that bridge
the one with a streetlight erratically blinking
remove your shoes
walk backwards
you are now 27 minutes from your destination
your phone is at 3%
you’re welcome for getting you this far
***
Anna Dempsey is an American-born writer and teacher based in London. She is currently working towards a PhD in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She won the 2019 Costa Short Story Award and has been published by Dear Damsels, Litro, Popshot and Ellipsis Zine.
***
image: MM Kaufman
Rejection Letters 