For You

For You' is set on a University campus and revolves around a young man, Jack, who falls in love, which is the only real emotion he feels as he struggles to come to terms with life around him and the Literature course he is taking. His lack of emotion and empathy – apart from his love for Chloe, Amy and his friendship with Peter – stem from his past and family life. He feels friendless, too, and worthless, though he has everything going for him. There is no real guiding plot, for the short story goes from day to day and month to month. He tells the reader of his love for Chloe and attends house parties and nightclubs and skips classes. He becomes lost in his own bubble, crippled by his love, until one night he encounters Chloe in an emotional state and promises to help. Motivated and hypnotised by his love for her, he promises to do whatever she says to help, though cannot possibly foresee what happens.

Jack is a part of a drugs, sex and party culture, though, like most other students he encounters, wishes there was something else. Being lonely, alienated, bored and suffering unrequited love, Jack, using a stream of consciousness narration, meditates on tragedies in his past and allows the reader a glimpse into his current life.

'For You' mingles love with loss, heartache and tragedy, and also gives an insight into University life at a former polytechnic. It also plays with the idea of powerful memories affecting present life. Jack is held back by the past, and cannot live properly in the present.