A squirrel crossed my path. Then another. And another.
Curiosity got the better of me.
I stepped off the trail, pushing through the low brush, following them deeper in. One, two, three… more than I expected. I found myself counting without really knowing why — just something to do as I walked, letting the quiet of the place settle around me.
Then the trees opened.
Tall trunks spaced just enough to let the late March sun filter through, warming the ground beneath my feet. A fallen trunk lay at the centre of it, thick and worn smooth with age. Secluded. Still. The kind of place you don’t stumble across unless you’re looking — or perhaps not looking at all.
And then the image came.
Uninvited, but clear.
My wife, one foot propped up on the trunk… and someone else, his arms sliding around her waist. And me there, watching.
That was all it took.
Not an action. Not a plan. Just a moment — a feeling, a possibility.
And somewhere between that fallen trunk and the walk back through the trees, the story began.
It always surprises me how little it takes. A place. A mood. A single thought that lingers just long enough to grow into something more.
This one stayed with me.
It followed me home, lingered over the next few days, and slowly became one of the stories that will be part of my next collection:
Her First Time — Volume 2
I’m working through the stories now — some already complete, others still taking shape — with a plan to release the collection towards the end of April or early May.
So if you’re curious, keep an eye on this space.
And when the book is out, I wonder if you’ll be able to spot it — the one that started with a quiet walk, a handful of squirrels, and a secluded clearing under the late March sun.
Alongside that, I’m also putting the final touches on my submission for the next issue of Hotwife Digest in May — a piece I’m looking forward to sharing.
And, in a slightly different direction, I’ve been working on a short story set in a small village in the Balkan mountains — a setting that brings its own kind of atmosphere and tension.
After that, I’m hoping to return to Anthony’s Confidence, a longer project I set aside last year and one I’m keen to finish.
For now, though, it all starts with moments like this — a quiet walk, a handful of squirrels, and a thought that lingers.
P.S. For those who prefer reading outside Amazon, you can now get some of my books directly from my site — including EPUB and PDF editions to keep and read on any device:
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