Abdu ssamad
Bio
Writer of horror, crime, romance, motivation, psychology, and news. I craft stories that provoke emotion, spark thought, and keep you hooked till the last word. Dive into a world where every story leaves an impact.
Stories (9)
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How These 7 Money Habits Helped Me Escape the Paycheck Trap
There was a time when payday felt like a relief—until I realized I was counting down the hours until the next one. Every month was a tightrope walk: bills, rent, groceries, and no room for error. I was stuck in the paycheck-to-paycheck trap—exhausted, anxious, and financially drained.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Lifehack
A Child’s Imaginary Friend Is Not Imaginary
Rain lashed against the windows of the old countryside cottage, its rhythm echoing through the empty halls like a warning. Eliza wrapped a blanket tighter around herself as she watched her daughter, Lily, seated cross-legged in the center of her bedroom, giggling softly at nothing.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Horror
How to Maintain Attachment While Living Together
Even though we share a bed, a kitchen, and a routine, there are days when it feels like we are strangers living together. Everything seems like a dream when you move in together for the first time. sharing chores, breakfasts in bed, cuddles on the couch, and the joy of being together all the time. However, life begins to enter almost gradually. The emotional intimacy that was once effortless begins to be eroded as a result of stress at work, bills, daily responsibilities, and the monotony of routine. You are not imagining if you have ever said to yourself, "We live together, but I feel alone." It is not enough to be physically close to someone to sustain an attachment. It must be cared for. Couples, especially those who have been together for a long time, can overcome the difficulties of living together by following these steps. --- 🧠 1. Recognize that closeness equals intimacy Confusion between presence and connection is one of the most common pitfalls that couples fall into. Even though you're in the same house, that doesn't mean you're really talking to each other. > Think about the last time you looked your partner in the eye and inquired about how they were feeling. Couples often behave more like roommates than romantic partners in the UK, where a fast-paced work culture and emotional reserve are common. The treatment? deliberate attention Put the TV off. Put your phone down. Give each other a look. Speak. Listen. --- 💬 2. Make small, intimate moments of emotional closeness Grand gestures are not required. You require frequent, infrequent emotional touchpoints. a 10-second embrace prior to leaving for work Providing them with a cup of tea without asking putting a sticky note on their laptop that says, "I'm proud of you." asking, "What brought you joy today?" These instances convey a significant subconscious message: "I notice you. I care. You are valued. --- 🗓️ 3. Schedule time for connection, not just coexistence. While many UK couples share a home, they operate on distinct emotional timelines. The answer? Make time for bonding, not for chores. a dinner once a week with "no phones allowed" Taking a fifteen-minute walk after dinner together a "relationship check-in" once a month where you both share how you're feeling sexually and emotionally. Treat your relationship like a garden: even the most beautiful bond will wither if it is not given time, care, and pruning. --- 🧱 4. Learn about one another's attachment style. Attachment is influenced by childhood trauma, personality, and love. Are you worried and want to be reassured often? Does your partner avoid you and require more room? These differences can be made worse by living together. The one might feel smothered, and the other might feel left out. Learning about attachment theory can help save relationships. Books like Attached by Amir Levine and resources like the UK's Relate charity are game-changers. --- 🔄 5. Get out of your routine before it breaks you. Cohabitation's comfort and curse are routine. It's safe, but it can get old. To keep your emotions burning: Take turns organizing domestic "surprise dates." Make something new together. Recreate the first time you met. Before going to bed, read aloud to one another. Spend a weekend apart to rekindle longing and mystery. This emotional care becomes even more important in the United Kingdom, where couples may live together before getting married. --- ❤️ 6. Don't say things you think are obvious. "I adore you." "I'm grateful to you." "You are stunning." "I'm happy for you." Too many couples assume their partner knows and stop saying these words once they move in together. However, love flourishes when spoken, not just assumed. Emotional disconnection actually rarely occurs simultaneously. It fades slowly. a few unspoken praises. several missed opportunities to touch You'll still be in love, but you won't be able to hear each other. --- In conclusion: You should become closer by living together. However, it only works if you are emotionally deliberate. Don't just stick around in the same place. Exist in the hearts of one another. Recreate the customs. Make love sounds. Touch as if you are still figuring each other out. And if you're not sure, ask yourself: > "Would they feel loved if today were our last day together?" Because, at the end of the day, a relationship is not defined by sharing a bed or bills— It's how much you care about each other, even in the face of life's temptations to drift apart. Hold their hand as though it were the first time. As if you still have a thousand things to say, look into their eyes. And love them even though you don't live together But because your souls continue to reside in one another.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Psyche
I Was Forced to Work With Clowns — And No One Believed What I Saw
The moment the lights went out, I knew something was wrong, but when I told the others in the circus, they all laughed. They advised, "Don't be soft; it's just a little bit of darkness." I just felt it. That oppressive, thick fear. The kind that gets into your bones and under your skin. I ought to have left as soon as they gave me the red nose. --- Clowns were never my thing. Not even when I was a kid. My stomach always twisted because of the painted smile and the way their faces never revealed their true emotions. I almost said no when a traveling circus offered me a job after I lost my job. However, rent was past due. My refrigerator was empty. I was forced to act. They said I would sell tickets. Simple work. In no costume No clowns! They deceived. --- My first night was spent in Tent Nine, also known as the "Clown Wardrobe." It smelled like old face paint and sweat. The mirrors were stained by greasepaint. Wig stands lined the shelves like severed heads. Windows were not present. curtains made of thick velvet. Additionally, there was a smell that resembled rotten food and burned sugar. I tried to make light of it. I told myself that it was just work. But then the lights started to move around. I also heard it. Laughter. Not content. Not amusing. It was modest. Raspy. like something that tries to sound human but doesn't. --- I told Mark, the manager of the tent. He grinned. "Clowns enjoy tricking people. It will become second nature. However, I never did. I slept in the caravan behind the main tent that night. The windows were shook by the wind. The tin roof shook as the rain fell. I choked when I awoke at 3:12 a.m. Balloons. Numerous of them. Red, yellow, and blue are taking up space. One slowly deflated over my mouth. I screamed as I tore it away. Nobody arrived. The balloons were gone by morning. The caravan had no filth. Mark gave a head shake. "Yes, rough dream?" However, I wasn't dreaming. My throat continued to burn. --- Three nights later, the worst happened. We were in the vicinity of Sheffield. A chilly, muddy field No crowds. Only the crew I had been asked to assist them with the clown tent's late-night packing. I declined. They demanded it. I made my way inside. Alone. Overhead, only one dim light. The costumes were dangling like bodies. Metal, paint, and sweat all permeated the air. When I turned around, I saw it. a ghoul. Eight feet in height. Like cracked porcelain, pale skin. It had a mouth that was too big. Real teeth, yellow and razor-sharp. It remained still. However, its eyes were on me. I mumbled, "Who's there?" It laughed. Not joking. Giggled. I stepped back. It made one progress. The weight made the floor squeak. I veered off and ran. I collapsed outside, shaking. Mark was present. As I wept and pointed at the tent, I begged them to believe me. He showed up. walked out with a smile. "Love, there's nothing there. You require sleep. I was not believed. --- The following morning, I quit. I took a train, packed my bags, and never looked back. But I was followed by something. I occasionally hear it outside my apartment window. That guffaw. Slow and soft. I wake up sometimes to find balloons attached to my bedpost. Nobody else can see them. I'm stressed, according to my mom. I need to rest, my friends say. But I'm aware of the truth. The monster recognized me after I looked it in the eye. And I'm the only one still alive who can recall that night.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Horror
How I Made My First £500 Online With Zero Experience
I was trying to decide between bread and a shampoo bottle as I stood in the Dollar Tree aisle. I couldn’t afford both. My card had just been declined at the checkout, and I only had $2.19 left in my Chime account. Rent was due in nine days. There was no money coming in, no gigs lined up, and I had no idea what I was going to eat tomorrow. That was my lowest point. Broke in America, suffocated by the rising U.S. cost of living, and with no fancy degree or big network, I felt trapped. But that moment—that sheer, skin-crawling panic—forced me to take action. --- Beginning at a rock bottom Back home in my freezing one-room apartment in Chicago, I wrote down three brutal truths: 1. I had $0 in savings. 2. In nine days, I had to pay my $700 rent. 3. I had no job, and no one to bail me out. Then I wrote one more line under it: "Make $650 online in 30 days or get evicted." I’d never made money online before. I didn’t even own a laptop—just a battered phone with cracked glass. But desperation has a funny way of making you resourceful. I Googled: “how to make money online with no experience USA.” What followed was a blur of YouTube rabbit holes, Reddit threads, and blog posts from digital nomads. --- The second week: Writing My Way Out I signed up for Rev.com, TranscribeMe, and Scribie—platforms that pay you to transcribe audio into text. The pay was low ($0.40 to $1.40 per minute of audio), but it was real. That week, I transcribed American podcasts at 1.25x speed for six hours. I made $70.12—not much, but it felt like a miracle. At the same time, I cut every possible expense. Food budget: $1.65/day (beans, rice, eggs). I walked everywhere—no buses, no trains. To keep my gas bill low, I washed every other day. I layered up instead of turning on the heat. These extreme steps weren’t sustainable long-term—but they bought me time. --- Week 3: The Freelance Hustle Begins I discovered Fiverr and listed a gig: “I will proofread your content.” I had no prior experience, but I offered 500 words for $6 and performed admirably on the initial orders. Five-star reviews rolled in. That week, I earned $158.35. I reinvested $13 into a Fiverr Pro thumbnail using Canva and free templates. It worked—I looked more professional, and orders increased. I spent my evenings perfecting client communication, watching free Skillshare tutorials on YouTube, and learning grammar tricks. By the end of the week, I’d earned enough to top up my electricity account and cook a hot meal that didn’t come from a can. --- Fourth Week: My First $650 I reached $678.09 on a Friday night. $287 from Fiverr, $199 from transcription, and the rest from a few paid surveys and selling an old coat on Poshmark. I paid my rent, stocked up on basics (flour, oats, peanut butter), and even bought myself a cheap secondhand keyboard for $12 because I’d destroyed the one on my phone from typing so much. I wasn't rich, but I was alive, and most importantly—I wasn't broke in America anymore. --- What I Learned (And You Can Too) Start where you are. I had no laptop, no experience, no safety net—just desperation and Wi-Fi. Use free tools. I learned from YouTube, Reddit, and Google. I survived on $5 at a time for the small jobs that add up. Budgeting isn’t optional. When your income is low, budgeting tips aren’t cute—they’re survival. Take care of your mental health. I journaled every night. I sobbed. I took short walks. I talked to myself like a coach instead of a critic. --- Final Note: To Anyone Having Financial Trouble If you’re broke, ashamed, overwhelmed—I get it. I've experienced it. This system isn't built for the working poor. The cost of living in the United States is extremely high. But your situation is not your identity. You don’t need fancy degrees or perfect grammar to make your first $500 online. You just need grit, a cracked phone, and a reason to keep going. Your survival story starts the moment you stop waiting to be saved—and start fighting back. You’ve got this.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Motivation
Lost in the Woods at Night
At Night, Lost in the Woods "When the lights went out, I knew something was wrong; however, when I told my family, they just laughed," It started as a normal weekend trip. Just a bit of time away from London, out in the country. My family booked a small cottage near the edge of a forest. Peaceful. Quiet. No phone signal. On Friday afternoon, we arrived. The air smelled of pine and damp earth. Birds chirped lazily. It appeared to be a dream. However, the dream changed into something else by nightfall. Around 10 PM, the power went out. When it happened, I was reading by the fireplace. The room became glowing and warm in a split second. The next, darkness swallowed everything. I blinked. Waited. Nothing. Just the sound of the wind scraping against the windows. I informed my dad. He shrugged. “Old place. Most likely, the breaker tripped. Mum laughed. “You’ll survive one night without your phone.” My younger brother made fun of me. “Watch out — the forest monsters are coming!” But I felt it. Something wasn't right. Like the darkness was heavier than normal. Like it was pressing against the windows, watching us. I decided to step outside. For a brief moment. To get some air. I saw it at that time. A figure appeared about twenty feet away from the trees. It wasn’t moving. Just standing there. Tall. Thin. No attributes. Only there. My chest tightened. I blinked again, hoping it was a trick of the shadows. However, it did not vanish. It stayed. I dashed inside again. The door was slammed. Locked it. “Told you,” I said. “There’s something out there.” They laughed once more. “It’s probably a tree.” “Don’t be silly.” “Too many scary movies, yeah?” I wanted to scream. I felt alone, like I was in a different world than them. A world full of dread. Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. Every creak of the wood, every howl of the wind felt like it was whispering to me. Calling. Around 2 AM, I heard footsteps. Not inside. Outside. Slow. Crunching the leaves. Through the curtain, I saw a glimpse. Nothing. Then — a flash of white. A face? A mask? I couldn’t tell. It also vanished very quickly. I jolted my brother to sleep. “Please. Wake up. There’s something out there.” He rolled over. “Go to bed, freak.” Tears stung my eyes. I was not believed. No one saw it but me. The night dragged on. From my window, I watched. Every now and then, I caught glimpses. It's unclear. Never clear. But there. always present. advancing closer. By dawn, I was shaking. Pale. Exhausted. Everyone else? They were unharmed. Eating breakfast. Laughing. Planning a walk in the woods. They refused to go, I begged. “Please. Stay close. Something’s out there. I promise. My dad sighed. “Enough, alright? Your brother is being scared by you. So I stayed behind. Alone. They left. I waited. Hours passed. The forest was quiet. Too silent. Then — screaming. Distant. Sharp. Cut off. I ran outside. To the edge of the trees. Nothing. No birds. No wind. merely that gloomy darkness. in the open air. They never returned. The police searched for days. No sign. No tracks. No clues. only me. And a story no one believed. Now, every night, I see the figure again. positioned just below the tree line. Waiting. Watching. I don’t go near the forest anymore. I don’t speak of that night. Because the moment I do — people disappear. Now, I’m the only one left who remembers that night. Start writing...
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Horror
How I Paid Off My Debt in 1 Year — My Survival Story from Broke to Debt-Free in the UK. Content Warning.
I still remember the cold sting of that February morning. The kettle had just finished boiling, but I couldn’t even afford the electricity to run it. After logging into my bank app, I stared blankly at £3.27. Five days later, rent was due. My phone buzzed—another reminder from the credit card company. My hands shook and my chest tightened. That was my breaking point. I was officially broke in the UK, drowning in £9,400 of debt, and one more missed payment away from default.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Journal
How I Rebuilt Myself After a Mental Burnout. Content Warning.
The town hadn’t changed much—same chipped-paint bookstore on the corner, same ocean breeze carrying salt and pine through the cracked windows of my rented apartment. I was back after six years, not to find anything or anyone, but to lose the noise. The city had been too loud, both inside and out. And I was tired. Bone-tired. Burnt out in the way no sleep could fix.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Confessions
How I Escaped the Trap of Overthinking. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
There was a time when I could turn the smallest decision into a mental marathon. Should I send the text or wait? Did I say the wrong thing in that meeting? What if I fail? What if I succeed? The questions never stopped. They circled like vultures over my peace of mind — relentless, exhausting, and invisible to everyone but me.
By Abdu ssamad6 months ago in Motivation
