From a mother meeting her son’s killer, to a wife’s despair and desire for revenge when her beloved cat dies, this is a collection of stories about troubled lives. The protagonists struggle to cope in adversity, some finding themselves capable of unexpected courage and resilience, but for others adapting to their difficult circumstances appears impossible.

In the title story, a newly retired husband becomes obsessed with environmental issues, bringing his marriage to crisis point. Son explores the dilemma of discovering a family crime, whether to expose it, or conceal the evidence. In A Beginner’s Guide to Stammering a teenager struggles to communicate with dramatic consequences. A middle-aged man falls in love for the first time in Catalina, but at what cost?

Step into the microcosm of another person’s experience, understand their dilemma, ask: how would you cope?