Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS

Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS

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Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS
Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS
The Wailing Wind — A “Hindsight” Short Story
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Hindsight Universe

The Wailing Wind — A “Hindsight” Short Story

The winter wind blows through the naked branches, almost drowning out the screams.

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Neil Shooter
Jan 06, 2025
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Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS
Life, the Universe, and ALL THE THINGS
The Wailing Wind — A “Hindsight” Short Story
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A tea light in a clear glass candle holder, close-up photography
Photo by Mateusz Grabowski on Unsplash

Friday, Jan 3, 2025

The winter wind blows through the naked branches, almost drowning out the screams.

Dave tries to sleep, but he can’t. He needs to sleep. He needs to get up in a few hours whether he sleeps or not. But he can’t shut off his mind. He can’t relax. The wailing wind mocks him, heavy with frozen tears. The quick-build suburban house is not the best fortress, but it is the best they have. Stone walls would have blocked out the sound. Even brick walls wouldn't burn like tinder.

Johnny stirs beside him. David envies him. Johnny could fall asleep anywhere, and now his breathing settles back into its usual rhythm. Or maybe it’s just that Johnny is too exhausted to worry about reality anymore?

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