The Seventh Elephant by Alexis Stamatis

The Seventh Elephant

Alexis Stamatis

Despite a Greek setting this is a universal tale of the destructive nature of addiction. Sad but lyrically told.

Extract
He goes home on foot in the rain. He doesn't remember anything special from the film. Before opening the door, he goes over to the radiator cupboard in the corridor. It's the only place he has left to hide his bottles. She's found all the other hiding places, even the one under the boxes of old books on the back balcony. The cupboard is empty. She's become an expert, her mind works in co-ordination with his lies.