The Roach and the Butterfly

In a world where celebrating birthdays is a crime, Arthur Niles, senior editor at the New Dawn Tribune, lights a forbidden candle—not just for himself, but in honor of Julian, his secret lover lost to THE ORDER. With ORDERGUARDS guards certain to storm his apartment within the hour, Artie reflects on their clandestine love and the spy-like games they played for nearly a decade, defying The Order’s brutal purity laws. Now, all he can do is tidy up the place and wait to see if his final plan is delivered before sunrise.

*Sensational 64 Silver Trophy in 2024 Autumn Writing Battle

*Out for publication requests