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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 1h

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 14h

I find a childhood relic: a pack of cigarette sweets.

We’d inhale sugary air & tap imaginary #ash away, playing at being grown up.

I sigh into the dust. “It’s not that glamorous.”

I take a fake drag & reminisce about youth.

“It was never that sweet,” the dust replies. #vss365

a black and white photo with the words zero-void on the bottom right

ALT: a black and white photo with the words zero-void on the bottom right

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 1d

Their eyes met at the staff Christmas Carols, beneath the harsh lights in reception. Two discordant voices - his flat, hers sharp. Her sparkly Santa hat #clashed with his festive jumper. Their teams were notorious rivals.

And yet, in that moment… love at first sight. #vss365

a woman wearing a christmas sweater is sitting in front of a laptop computer

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 2d

Brenda was crying.
“What’s up?” said Kath.
“Caught a whiff of my husband’s old aftershave. I #associate that smell with the day he left: grief.”
“Associate it with freedom instead,” Kath said. “I love the smell that reminds me of when mine went.”
“Davidoff?”
“No. Bleach.” #vss365

a blue spray bottle with a white arrow on the side

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 3d

He’s the perfect partner. Apart from the fact that every 30 seconds or so he freezes & breaks into an #advert.

I can live with it, though…

This vss is brought to you by Penguin. P-p-pick up an upgrade to Premium today.

…because I’m programmed to do the same. #vss365

a cardboard sign that says commercial break is in front of bunk beds

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 4d

He sat scrolling while she hung the washing.

She sighed. “I feel like this old pair of knickers these days.”

“What, saggy & faded?” he chuckled.

She felt something snap inside her. Her fingers tightened around the knife in her pocket. “No. The #elastic’s gone.” #vss365

a drawing of clothes hanging on a clothes line with the letter a visible

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 5d

She’s got a brother. Typical of him to be here now.
“Where were you?” he says. “We said we’d meet up in the year 2000.”
What’s he’s on about? It’s still the 90s.
Then he asks if I wanna dance & drink & screw, because there’s nothing else to do.
I shrug. “Whatever.” #vss365 #pulp

Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 6d

“Step outside, summertime’s in bloom!” I say, but she just shakes her head & says, “There’s no other way.”

I don’t look back in anger. No, I don’t feel down. Now is not the time to cry. All I need are cigarettes & alcohol. #vss365 #oasis

Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 7d

“We’re engaged!” I said. Then, “Woo hoo!” Maybe that’s what triggered it?

“Well,” she said, “in the words of #Blur, it always should be someone you really love.”

“He is,” I said.

She mumbled something about dirty pigeons. Now all she does is watch afternoon repeats & the food she eats. #vss365

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 6d

“Step outside, summertime’s in bloom!” I say, but she just shakes her head & says, “There’s no other way.”

I don’t look back in anger. No, I don’t feel down. Now is not the time to cry. All I need are cigarettes & alcohol. #vss365 #oasis

Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 7d

“We’re engaged!” I said. Then, “Woo hoo!” Maybe that’s what triggered it?

“Well,” she said, “in the words of #Blur, it always should be someone you really love.”

“He is,” I said.

She mumbled something about dirty pigeons. Now all she does is watch afternoon repeats & the food she eats. #vss365

a man holding a sign that says parklife

ALT: a man holding a sign that says parklife

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 7d

“We’re engaged!” I said. Then, “Woo hoo!” Maybe that’s what triggered it?

“Well,” she said, “in the words of #Blur, it always should be someone you really love.”

“He is,” I said.

She mumbled something about dirty pigeons. Now all she does is watch afternoon repeats & the food she eats. #vss365

a man holding a sign that says parklife

ALT: a man holding a sign that says parklife

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 8d

I’d been drooling in the front row all night, & finally the drummer came over.
“The guitarist likes you. Sent me over to call you backstage,” he said.
“Damn,” I said. “I had my eye on the drummer. That’s a #conundrum, isn’t it?”
“No. It’s a bongo.”
I swooned. Funny too. #vss365

a muppet with red hair and sunglasses is playing drums

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 9d

Ex-Superintendent Carol’s former colleague had #sublimated his rage into a long police career.

Now that he’s retired, Carol wonders how he spends his nights.

The garden looks freshly dug.

He spots her eyeing it.

“Plenty of room for more to be planted,” he chuckles. #vss365

a man in overalls and a hat is watering plants with a watering can in front of a pool .

ALT: a man in overalls and a hat is watering plants with a watering can in front of a pool .

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 10d

Gotta keep the old cannibal stories running… 🤣

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 10d

The room pressed in, damp and airless. The door was locked. Where was I?
I bent to look through the keyhole.

Framed by an elaborate #escutcheon, an eye peered back at me. A familiar one. Mine.

I blinked. It blinked too. #vss365

a blurred image of a spoon with a black background

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 11d

They paused by the sign. “The last one didn’t say ‘dead end,’” said John.
“No, it said ‘picnic area,’” said Jill.

The watcher’s #scrutiny from behind the trees went unnoticed. “It’s both,” he muttered under his breath, mouth watering. #vss365 #vsspic

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Reposted by Natalie Reilly-Johnson

#vsspic @vsspic.bsky.social · 12d

Welcome to #vsspic. Our new photo for the week of 9/27/25 is here. Don’t be stupid. Write a story of poem.

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 12d

My agent praised the “sonorous narrative voice” in my work.

“It isn’t so #sonorous at 3am,” I laughed.

At 3am, a text: “How do you make it stop?”

I reply, “Write a book & pass it on.”

The voice is probably cackling. But not in my head. I go back to sleep in blissful peace. #vss365

a kitten is sleeping under a blanket on a bed .

ALT: a kitten is sleeping under a blanket on a bed .

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 12d

🤣🤣 glad to be of assistance!

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 13d

It’s a big step in a new relationship when you share old photos.

He flips through the album of my wild party days in the 90s & 00s. “You said you did everything with #caprice. But she’s not in any of them.”

I sigh. Maybe he’s not a keeper after all… #vss365

a woman in a black dress is dancing and the words oh yeah are visible

ALT: a woman in a black dress is dancing and the words oh yeah are visible

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 14d

It’s hard to believe this #eventuality has come to pass. It’s the end of the world & we’re all stuck at work.

So…to jump on each other or tell some home truths? Why not both?

Afterwards, we sit in awkward silence, the clock ticking. & ticking. & ticking.

“Um. See you Monday then.”

“Yup.” #vss365

a man is making a funny face and says `` welp this is awkward '' while looking at a woman .

ALT: a man is making a funny face and says `` welp this is awkward '' while looking at a woman .

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 15d

I’m always the #bellwether in my family & my friendship group. The trailblazer leading the way.

The first to kiss a boy.
The first to get a boyfriend.
And as he takes my hand, the chain around my neck is jangling. But not loudly enough.

Now I’m the first to go missing… #vss365

a close up of a person wearing a necklace with candy beads

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 16d

They brought in a new conductor to #reinvigorate the church choir.

Maybe it was the uplifting songs. Or maybe it was the fact that he was easy on the eye. But the church was full of new members & voices soared.

Outside, soil shifted. Skeletons rose & joined the chorus. #vss365

three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background

ALT: three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 17d

His wife is so non-committal she said, “I might do,” not “I do,” at their wedding.

No wonder he came looking for me, loving my screams of “Yes!” in the bedroom.

“This my glass?” I say to her now.

“Yes.”

“Cheers!” I sip. Wait. What did she say? “Is this poison?”

She smiles. “ #Perhaps.” #vss365

a drag queen says " bottoms up " in front of a green plant

ALT: a drag queen says " bottoms up " in front of a green plant

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 18d

The mirror shows you what’s around the corner.

I guess it’s there to prevent a #catastrophe, like a family standing in the middle of the road being run over.

But it relies on drivers slowing down upon seeing such an image. Not hitting the accelerator like this… #vss365 #vsspic

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Reposted by Natalie Reilly-Johnson

#vsspic @vsspic.bsky.social · 19d

Welcome to this week's #vsspic. Create a poem, a story, whatever moves you, and share it. Please remember to tag #vsspic so we can see your creativity!

A reflective mirror is attached to a telephone pole with a background of tree branches. It the reflection, we see a street with a strolling couple, and a family that are waving toward the mirror. Photo by Jamie Kettle for Unsplash.

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Natalie Reilly-Johnson @natalierj.bsky.social · 19d

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