Scream

Kim stopped listening. The package in her hands suddenly felt leaden, too heavy for its size. The realisation she was holding the means to end someone’s existence, and the legal licence to do so, weighed heavily. She began shaking, uncontrollable tremors shuddering through her shoulders and arms. 

Josie’s voice tailed off as her neighbour saw the colour leaving Kim’s face.

‘You all right dear? You look a bit peaky.’

‘I think I need to sit down,’ said Kim weakly, groping for the wall as something to hang onto.

‘Here, give me that parcel, dear.’

Kim handed it over gladly and leant against the house wall, hands on her thighs, gasping for breath.

‘Shall I get you some water?’ Josie had one foot over the threshold, clearly intent on going inside to fetch a drink.

‘No. No, I’m fine, but thank you. If you could just leave the packet over there-’ she gestured at the recycling bin, ‘I’ll be okay in a minute.’

‘If you’re sure?’ said Josie hesitantly, putting the packet on the top of the bin. ‘You look as though you might pass out at any moment.’

Kim thought that an accurate assessment of the state of affairs. Funny, she’d not thought Josie very perceptive until now. She straightened up and sucked in a deep breath just as Josie screamed, an earsplitting siren shriek. Kim turned and saw the young man framed in the doorway. He had shed his clothes and stood like a Greek statue, the morning sunshine gilding his many attributes.