Friends Disunited

Summary

It is 2002, and Dave is 59. A former university lecturer, he had to retire after suffering horrific facial injuries, which have resulted in his becoming a recluse. He becomes emotionally dependent on his counsellor, Susie.

Susie encourages him to end his isolation by making online contact with his former school-friends, whom he has not seen since he left his home town. Emails are exchanged, and his old friends begin to confide in him about each other. Dave realizes he can influence their lives by breaking these confidences.

He begins to act as a puppet-master, with devastating consequences not only for his former friends, but ultimately for Dave himself.

©2017 Richard Ayres (P)2017 Richard Ayres