AFTAB KHAN
Bio
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Storyteller at heart, writing to inspire, inform, and spark conversation. Exploring ideas one word at a time.
Writing truths, weaving dreams — one story at a time.
From imagination to reality
Stories (102)
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The Last Mile
The morning was colder than expected for late spring, and Emma Hayes stood at the edge of the trail, staring down the winding dirt path that disappeared into the mist. She tightened her ponytail, adjusted her running shoes, and told herself for the fifth time that she didn’t have to do this.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Motivation
The Climb Within: A Journey from Rock Bottom to the Summit
It started in the quiet hours, the kind where the world feels distant and every sound echoes inside your head. James sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor like it might offer an answer. His phone screen still showed the email—short, cold, and final.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Art
Through the Storm: A Mother and Son’s Unbreakable Bond
The winter of 1998 was the kind that seemed to last forever. Snow piled high against the old apartment’s windows, and the thin walls rattled each night when the wind roared through the alley. Inside, the heater worked just enough to keep the frost off the furniture, but not enough to chase away the chill that settled into your bones.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Families
The Platform That Turned Words into Worlds: My Journey on Vocal.media
When I first stumbled upon Vocal.media, it wasn’t part of some master plan. It was a Tuesday night, the kind where the clock ticks too slowly, and I was knee-deep in yet another online rabbit hole. I had been searching for platforms to share short stories, hoping to find a space that wasn’t just about chasing followers or battling algorithms. Somewhere between “how to publish online” and “writing contests 2022,” I found an unfamiliar name—Vocal.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Interview
Success Has My Mother’s Hands
I used to think success looked like a spotlight. Clean stages, polished shoes, applause. A framed degree on the wall. A shiny plaque with your name engraved. That’s what I saw on television, in magazines, on the news: success with straightened posture and perfect smiles.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Families
The Shape of the Thing
Elliot first drew the creature when he was six. It was supposed to be a simple art project. His teacher, Miss Carrow, had asked the class to draw their imaginary friends. Most kids sketched knights or fairies, monsters with toothy grins and candy-colored wings. Elliot’s paper, by contrast, was quiet. It showed a corner of his room, scribbled in grayscale, with a crooked figure crouched in the shadows beside his toy chest. He’d labeled it in heavy crayon: The Shape of the Thing.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Fiction
The Shape of the Thing
Elliot first drew the creature when he was six. It was supposed to be a simple art project. His teacher, Miss Carrow, had asked the class to draw their imaginary friends. Most kids sketched knights or fairies, monsters with toothy grins and candy-colored wings. Elliot’s paper, by contrast, was quiet. It showed a corner of his room, scribbled in grayscale, with a crooked figure crouched in the shadows beside his toy chest. He’d labeled it in heavy crayon: The Shape of the Thing.
By AFTAB KHAN7 months ago in Fiction
