Catherine Hamilton

The Invasive Grave of Elizabeth Washington

1. The burrower left the dead-fall at the same time as she usually did, at false dawn, as the eastern skies lightened but the cool of the night still lingered. Upon exiting, she carefully replaced the layers of dead and living plants that hid the entrance to her burrow. She made a quick circuit of the clearing, checking that the entrance remained hidden. It was safe, as far as anything could be these days. A dead pine and a thorn bush thicket: home sweet home.