Embarrassment
The Stranger Who Shared My Blood
I never imagined that a saliva test could make me question everything about my identity. Like many people during lockdown, I got bored and bought one of those at-home DNA kits. It sat on my shelf for weeks until I finally spit into the tube and mailed it off, expecting nothing more than confirmation of what I'd always been told: half Swedish, half French, and a proud mix of both.
By Hamad Haider6 months ago in Confessions
One Click, and My Past Was a Lie
I had never thought much about where I came from. I mean, I knew my roots—at least I thought I did. We were Irish on my mother’s side, Italian on my father’s. My grandfather fought in World War II. My grandmother made the best lasagna. It was the kind of identity you wear like a warm coat—comfortable, familiar, and passed down through generations.
By Hamad Haider6 months ago in Confessions
Whispers Before the Waters: The Last Conversation in Swat. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
The sky cracked open like an old wound. Heavy clouds, swollen with weeks of rage, spilled their grief over the emerald valley of Swat. The river, once a thread of life winding through the mountains, had transformed into a snarling beast. That evening, long before the headlines and rescue helicopters, long before the world would mourn for the dead, a small house at the edge of Kalam stood defiant — a fragile raft of humanity amid the rising tide.
By muhammad shah6 months ago in Confessions
The Flower That Never Bloomed and Why I Still Wait
This isn’t just about a flower. It’s about memory. Presence. Grief. An old mechanic who told me something wild by a river. And a silent cactus that’s been sitting outside my window for ten years, daring me to believe it still has a soul.
By Black Vanilla6 months ago in Confessions
Trump’s African Summit: A Modern Display of Colonial Power
Trump’s African Summit: A Modern Display of Colonial Power On July 9, 2025, the White House became the stage for a troubling diplomatic theatre, as United States President Donald Trump hosted a mini-summit with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. What was billed as a friendly summit about economic cooperation quickly revealed itself as a spectacle of domination and submission, raising critical questions about modern-day power dynamics between Africa and the West.
By Ikram Ullah6 months ago in Confessions
Breaking Up with Cancer
When I First Heard the Word I always thought the word “breakup” belonged in love stories. I never imagined I’d use it in the same sentence as cancer. But cancer was, in every sense, a toxic partner. It was sneaky, ruthless, and determined to destroy me from the inside out.
By The Thought Mirror6 months ago in Confessions
Almost Every Girl Hates These Things (But They Won’t Tell You)
Many guys don’t realize they do things that can annoy or upset women. Sometimes, they are unaware of how their actions affect women’s feelings. Knowing what women secretly dislike can make your relationship stronger. It’s about understanding her unspoken pet peeves. When both partners are open and honest, they build real trust and respect.
By vijay sam6 months ago in Confessions
