'Just Like the Movies' by Caoimhe Ryan

I can guarantee that 99.7% of the world’s population has seen the movie, ‘The Notebook’. Ok, maybe I can’t, but one thing’s for sure, we’re all suckers for cheesy romantic movies. You know, the type where the two main characters are devastatingly attractive. The girl is shy and humble, the guy, popular and outgoing, but they fall for each other. They most certainly have to kiss in the rain.

'Listening into conversations has to be the single most entertaining thing one can do on public transport' by Ciara Olsthoorn

Listening into conversations has to be the single most entertaining thing one can do on public transport. Especially arguments. Darragh loved nothing more than a good argument. Regularly, on his daily commute to and from work, he would pop in headphones, let the lead dangle idly and happily relax and listen to the bizarre snippets of commentary going on around him.

'They Make Manipulation a Virtue' by Ciara Olsthoorn

Darragh inhaled deeply, sucking the cigarette fumes into his lungs and exhaled in the general direction of the car’s open window, tipping the ashes outside over the door. He scratched his head, pushing back the tangled hair that hung over his eyes like a mop, staring at the sheet he'd printed out off some vegan blog. The article was about these smoothies that had recently gone on sale in his locality. For all the world they looked like blended grass, or a mud pie his son Ross had made years ago, but no; according to Vegan_Sam123 they were “food for the soul”, organic, preservative free and supported his persona of being a “life enthusiast”. “If he can make money out of selling mud then so can I,” Darragh thought.

'Vision' by Noel Markham

Joseph felt a sudden shift in the temperature of the room.  The pleasant summer warmth was replaced with a deathly cold.  He moved his hands back above his head, and pulled himself to a sitting position with the metal framework of the bed.  He stopped and let the creaking echo around the large rectangular room, waiting to hear if any of the other boys were awakened by the chill.  No creak responded to his.  He was alone in the black. 

'Ever Since I Can Remember' by Eimear Dollard

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to run away. You wouldn't blame me either, if you met my family. Living under the same roof as parents who scoff at my ambitions to be a world-famous actress and a brother whose sole purpose in life is to irritate me has finally gotten to me. I will no longer settle for this maltreatment.