Structure

The short story “Jellyfish” by Catherine Smith begins in medias res with Kirsty slicing onions when she receives a text from her ex-girlfriend Emily: 

You're slicing onions when Emily's text pings. White letters on a black background. 10 pm to collect? I'll have a taxi waiting. Hope that's OK.

The beginning is somewhat vague and arouses readers’ curiosity as to what the exchange between Kirsty and Emily refers to or what their relationship might be. Also, the unusual use of second-person narration (“you”) may spark curiosity as well.

The story unfolds in chronological ...