Unexpected Endings

There are said to be two types of writers: those who meticulously plot their stories before ever setting pen to paper, and those who dive headfirst into a blank page, trusting that meaning will emerge through the process. I firmly belong to the latter group.

When I began writing proper short stories – rather than scribbles on the backs of bus tickets – I never imagined they would one day form a collection. But as the stories accumulated, I realized there might be enough to satisfy the growing number of readers who had enjoyed them and were eager for more.

My imagination is a restless and untamed force, often pulling me in unexpected directions, making each story a new adventure in creativity. I delight in experimenting with words, stretching and reshaping them into fresh contexts. Unexpected Endings is driven by this love of storytelling, blending my interests in science and folklore – two endless sources of inspiration.

In this collection, you’ll find stories like Azrael, where a goldfinch holds far more meaning than meets the eye, and Light and Dark, where nothing is quite what it seems.

A Coastal Shelf

Eddie Hart, a devoted officer at Langdon Fire Station, grapples with the lingering grief over his mother’s demise and the burdensome secret he harbors concerning her death, a truth he finds impossible to share with his seemingly detached father. At the firehouse, he faces the challenge of appeasing senior managers hell-bent on either reining in his Watch or disbanding it altogether, all while guiding the new recruit through the demanding facets of the profession. Amidst the workplace turmoil, the ghost of a past romance resurfaces: Jane, his high school sweetheart, now wed to the imposing Nev, but the lingering connection between them persists.

As the disparate threads of Eddie’s life converge towards a pinnacle, the pressure mounts. Will he navigate the tempest of professional challenges, mend the rift with his father, and reconcile the embers of a bygone love? Or will the surmounting adversities cause his life to unravel into chaos?

A Million Times through the War Zone

Wafa Aisha’s parents emigrated to Australia from the war torn West Bank to start a better life. Wafa is an aspiring actor whose goals after leaving school are to escape the clutches of her strict Muslim parents and to secure a lead role in a film.David Miller is a Sydney filmmaker whose production company is floundering. One day, out of the blue, he is approached by a white knight who offers him a large sum of money to make a film depicting Middle Eastern culture. When Wafa gets an opportunity to star in this production, she truly believes that fame and stardom have come knocking at her door. Coaxed into travelling to the West Bank by Rayad, the white knight who is bankrolling the film, she is tricked into marrying him. Feeling trapped and with no one to turn to, her instinct is to run. But Rayad has her passport as well as her mobile phone. Without these things, escaping this war-torn land seems almost impossible. In desperation, she assumes a new identity and joins the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, caring for wounded soldiers, all the while trying to figure out a way to somehow get back to Australia.Never in her wildest dreams could Wafa have imagined the obstacles she would have to face and the desperate measures she would need to take in order to achieve what she so desperately wants. Along the way, she becomes a member of Hamas and briefly works as a drug mule in order to get money. To complicate matters, she falls in love with a young soldier and has to decide whether to stay with the man of her dreams or continue her quest to return home. Juggling her confusing feelings becomes an overpowering emotion, which might just end up breaking her.‘A Million Times through the War Zone’ is a story of survival and never giving up on what you desperately want, no matter what life throws at you.

Restless

“If only I grew up in a world where I could choose my name, family, creed, and place of birth! How much better that world would be.”Dissatisfied with his life, Mujeer is on a quest to break away from his background. That quest becomes a purpose in itself and pursuing it an obsession. It is his way of reclaiming what he believes were wasted years.On his way, he questions his societal values and beliefs, and formulates a picture of how he wants to spend the remainder of his days.

Zuca

Saving lives in the centre of London is a difficult job, but paramedics Zeb and Sirena share the burden together. When working in different areas of the service, they find each other, bringing the promise of a fulfilling life together. However, this line of work can be unpredictable. Will their new love survive the test of a tragic event? Will heartache lead to heartbreak? This is a story of two people that find new love, and a hope for a bright future tested to levels that they could not have imagined. Do either of them have the strength to survive?

The Last Ever Christmas

It’s Christmas in the countryside. The most wonderful time of the year for the Brown Family. But as the snow begins to fall, a sense of something untoward intrudes on the festive season. The gift of a terrifying Christmas miracle, as an ancient monster returns, to set the world to ruin.Told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Jimmy Brown, two neighbouring families unite to survive, as the world seeks a solution, while verging on collapse. The unfolding horrors force them to confront their fears, question their faith, their sense of place, and what it means to be human.This is the last ever Christmas, and it will be unlike any other.

The Dark Side of White

Vijay, once a joyful child is deprived of this idyllic life by a shattering act of violence to his family. This life changing event casts a shadow over his life, such that he promises to himself that no matter how long it takes he would make every effort to rectify the injustice he witnessed. His quest for redemption is intertwined with his personal ambitions and this takes him on travels across continents.As he journeys from the naivety of childhood, through the turbulence of adolescence, and into the complexities of adulthood and parenthood, Vijay grapples with societal prejudices that come his way, but maintains his resolve to pursue his mission. But when the moment to fulfil his promise finally arrives, it unfolds in ways he could never have anticipated.

Clerk

The world we perceive is but a fraction of what truly exists. The most significant events transpire at the boundary between two realms: the visible and the invisible. These worlds intersect within the human soul, where a relentless battle for dominion rages until one emerges victorious. To triumph, one must recognize the enemy: a cunning and devious spirit, willing to employ any means necessary to satisfy its own ambitions. This entity seeks to advance its status within its own realm, exploiting human beings as mere instruments to achieve its nefarious goals. Most crucially, the enemy selects its victims with deliberate intent, a fact that illuminates much about their lives. In this timeless struggle, the specifics of time and place are rendered insignificant.

The Unloving Household

In the poignant tale of Madiya and Dalim’s offspring, we witness the profound impact of a loveless childhood on the fragile fabric of adult life. The narrative spotlights the children, now bearing the scars of emotional neglect, navigating a world where they grapple with understanding love and safety. The story underscores a universal truth: the formative years of parenting indelibly shape a child’s conception of affection and security in life’s unpredictable dance.

I'm Going Nowhere

This book, I’m Going Nowhere, is fiction based on the true story of an African woman, Miriam Ateko, who currently resides in Europe. Shortly when she relocated here, she was diagnosed HIV positive and told she would die in eighteen months without treatment.It was extremely distressing for Miriam. She felt anxious, was in denial and almost went into depression. She had to figure out how to deal with the diagnosis. The process was not easy as she faced obstacles along the way, like stigma, discrimination, rejection, among others from the very people she thought would have supported her to deal with the trauma of being diagnosed HIV positive.Despite the struggles she encountered, Miriam never gave up. With the right treatment and help from two organisations and some friends, her health improved, though not cured yet. She is now living her life to the fullest. She forgave people who wronged her but will not forget how she was treated.Miriam’s story is sad, but inspiring. The story encourages HIV positive people not to give up life easily. When you follow ART exactly as prescribed you can achieve an undetected virus load and continue to live a healthy life.

A Family Unravelled

In A Family Unravelled, meet Henry and his father, Frank. Both men share an unyielding ambition and a relentless drive for success. Yet, they diverge in matters of the heart: Frank, a notorious womaniser, has sired children through various affairs, while Henry stands as a beacon of fidelity, unwavering in his devotion.Deception, infidelities, and bitter family conflicts shatter the hearts of Henry and his beloved Corrina Jade. The complex tapestry of their family history begins to unfurl with a single ill-timed comment at a funeral. In the face of such turmoil, can they ever reclaim the warmth of true happiness? Dive into this intricate saga to discover if love can survive amidst the turmoil of a family unravelled.

When the Last Call Was Heard… Nothing but Tears Fell

Ever met someone you felt compelled to connect with, maybe a colleague? Dive into the story of Werewolf Joe, a seemingly average man with more than one hidden facet. Then there’s Demetria, the epitome of kindness and thoughtfulness, traits that make her unexpectedly perfect for a man of Joe’s… unique nature. Join them on a journey where secrets intertwine and destinies collide.