A woman meets up with her ex-husband, Lawrence, days before he leaves for Africa. He has said seemingly final goodbyes to his parents, has had no relationships in years, and will be leaving for the continent with almost nothing tying him to the life he has been living. During their conversation, however, the woman begins to realize just how connected to Lawrence she still is and always will be.

Real Life contains ten perfectly formed stories—singular moments of emotional intensity about the inner lives we all lead. Each story presents the moments of "real life" that all of us experience, stripping away defences to reveal truths of pain, joy, anger, fear, or hope.

HarperCollins brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperCollins short-stories collection to build your digital library.