Story: ‘The Destination Before Next’

“He took a photo just as something changed in the rising thermals of the city, and the countless birds settled into a calm, strangely silent gliding formation. The only noise then was the riotous play of arrow-shaped shadows that flew over the street and walls, a cacophony of moving darkness.”

Something about the pandemic situation is inspiring writers. You only need to spend a little time with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter to see that people are burrowing deep into their imaginations during this era of isolation and uncertainty.

It’s also inspiring publications. I was lucky enough to have my short story ‘Vanilla’ included in the Aloe anthology earlier this year. Today I’m pleased to confirm that ‘The Destination Before Next’ has been released in the anthology ‘Pages Penned in Pandemic: A Collective’.

I doubt it’s a coincidence that I wrote this story—about a location scout abroad, avoiding the realities of his home situation—during lockdown in the UK. Travel nourishes and sustains me, but I haven’t left my hometown of Sheffield since March 2020. Like many others, I’m seeking solace in the broad landscapes and unfettered exploration of fiction. (Have you read Fiona Mozley’s Elmet, Benjamin Myers’ Beastings, or Helen Mort’s Black Car Burning?)

I hope you’re all keeping well.

If you have any thoughts on this story of wanderlust and listlessness, please do share them on this page or on Twitter, where you can find me @davidbrookesuk.

—-db