27 Comments
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Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

I can tell all of our readers that when I read this last night, I squealed so loud. I did an absolute girly squeal and felt like I was going to fall over and faint. OK that’s a little bit of a dramatic rendition of what happened but I did squeal. And all I can say is that Harold showed up and I am so excited.🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

And what a reaction it was!

I wasn’t expecting that, so a big thank you Dorie!

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

I’m your biggest fan girl you know that! 🩷🙏🏽😂

Gary L Taylor's avatar

That was a wonderful read. I love the details which make if feel so real and the almost gentle but compelling way it' written in that you want it to just keep going.

Fantastic.

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Thank you Gary! Glad all the touches came across!

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Thank you Gary!

AsukaHotaru's avatar

I swear, the folded paper in his coat..!!! Yes Dorie-chan, I squealed too. I was holding my breath every time his hand went back there, like please let it still mean what he thinks it means.

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Agreed! Perfect squeal moments! Mark has quite a few of those. I know I’m biased by Harold is one of my favorite characters! I’m cheering him on!

MoTy's avatar

What? I never knew you wrote stories as well. Such a lovely surprise. The ambience feels very close to your poetic style, capturing tension in a gentle, balanced way. Great piece Mark x

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Thank you so much MoTy

This is my only recent story tale. Love that the “me” in it came through without being poetry 😊

Don't miss the earlier episodes!

MoTy's avatar

Oh shoot, didn’t realise. Will check it out x

Be Budding's avatar

True love ❤️

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Thanks Be! I agree! I’m excited to see what Emily will make of this…but

Be Budding's avatar

You two should write a book together! Perfect match.

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

We are thinking about turning this one into a book! I think I’m the lucky one, he puts up with all my shenanigans and doesn’t make me feel inferior, even though I tell him all the time he’s the better writer🩷

Be Budding's avatar

It would make a wonderful story—and a beautiful book to share with the world.

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Thank you Be! That warms my heart. It’s funny because I am the least romantic, the person who rolls eyes at cliché, and yet I’m enthralled here in this story

Be Budding's avatar

Hahaha, well, it certainly doesn’t show, Dorie! 😆 Keep it up!

Dean M's avatar

Hell this is good, was just reading backwards ... cannot wait the next episode ...

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Thanks Dean!

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Thank you so much! Mark is one of my favorite people on the planet. I love his writing and his stories always capture my attention!

Dean M's avatar

Indeed I love his poems too, seems we have sometimes very similar approach to “wordly” expression, and share interest for linguistics.

Also discussing with him directly we found quite some parallels, such as music, and other things … Definitely a lovely chap. Would absolutely love to have a pint with him some day.

Birgit / Mrs.Bimako's avatar

“Not surprise. Recognition.”

That line shifted the whole atmosphere for me.

There’s something wonderfully restrained about the pacing here and the tension keeps tightening quietly instead of announcing itself.

Looking forward to read more.

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Thank you so much, Birgit.

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Thank you Birgit! In two weeks we find out where Emily is!

Birgit / Mrs.Bimako's avatar

Barely can wait!