How did you do it? I think you must have written the story and then applied the framework of rules although I’m not certain as it’s subtly played (did ya see…)

Brilliant idea to take the simple proverb “love is a game” and show the complexities of changing rules in each character’s relationship year – to that end I think you should remove the king/queen icons you’ve added at the start of each section, it oversimplifies and ruins the ending a little; I liked having to read on before I was sure this was a duel rather than a multi-character narrative and the troubling ambiguity of your abrupt ending after the heady movement in “Triplet”.

Who calls checkmate? It’s her move and her stakes have risen from wanting to “settle down” to demanding the impossible, a man who is both “unsuitable” and “perfect”. Does this imply there is a winner and a looser? Is there defeat when the other wants to be captured? I’m delighted that the story ends on a move without the rules made explicit – like the real life leap of faith lovers make.

Why did you keep the numbering? I’m asking because it feels like an oversight rather than deliberate as “checkmate ” is a move rather than a variant on the rules and the parallel thinking in “Displacement” and “Triplet” is amusingly obvious from their choice of expletive/intention without needing the duplication of number 10.

Alice and Kriegspiel are unbearable to read. The fatigue of friends who even “stopped asking” emphasises her isolation. Unbearable to write about too so I’m overusing the delete key – anyway hope this gives you the reassurance that you’ve got it right.

Not all doom and gloom thank god! “Displacement” is still making me laugh out loud! The panicky repetition of “not” and “squiring” being a deliciously awkward choice of word cranking up the painfulness of this tricky situation and most of all the stuttered string of in-head-dialogue-excuses:

“in an unspoken, non-negotiated agreement that he had grudgingly accepted for her sake, as conveyed by their mutual friends, not his own”. Makes me think of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing.

The second chance aspect of the plot is irresistible and you have captured the essence of flirtation with a well chosen perfectly placed “peeking”.

I held my breath!