Family
12 Reminders for Year-End Reflection
It is that time of the year again when everyone posts how truly they have accomplished feats of success, competence, grit and determination. How magnificently their vision boards have manifested in the brilliance of their alluring existence! While it is a celebratory feat for all those who had a year that was filled with love and light, it is important to remember that the life projected on social media is the highlight of someone’s best days in the entirety of their existence. It is amazing for someone to put themselves out there and post their joy for life on their platform, but in the world where comparison is so normalised, I hope you remember life does not need to be aesthetically pleasing and swoon-worthy for it to be called a perfect life.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
When no one fought for me.
In my darkest moments, when life’s edge felt dangerously close, I was starkly alone. The guardians who should have been my bulwark were absent, leaving me unshielded and vulnerable. It’s a deep-seated pain to realize that those we call family — parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles — sometimes fail to stand up for us when we need it the most. The people who should have loved and protected me were nowhere to be found when I needed them the most. This absence created a gaping hole in my life that, for years, I tried to fill with the wrong things — love, attention, and validation from people who couldn’t give me what I needed.
By Zapphire Zuccaabout a year ago in Confessions
Doorman in Purgatory
Charley adjusted the stiff collar of his uniform, the polyester itching his neck like it had a personal vendetta. It was Christmas Eve, and he stood behind the front desk of The Stratford, a luxury high-rise on the Upper East Side. The building’s lobby was immaculate—polished marble floors, a chandelier that could blind a man, and garlands draped with precision, as if Martha Stewart herself had descended from decorating heaven. Yet, despite all the splendor, the place was as dead as his social life.
By The Kind Quillabout a year ago in Confessions
What I'd Cook for Gordon Ramsay
Merry Christmas Vocal!! My partner gave me the idea to write this post, after a long Christmas season. We love binge watching Gordon Ramsay’s Hell's Kitchen together. I've always said listening to Gordon Ramsay yell at the contestants kind of feels like therapy. I live for it. I've binge watched Kitchen Nightmares with him as well as Hotel Hell but we truly enjoy watching Hell's Kitchen the most.
By Chloe Rose Violet 🌹about a year ago in Confessions
An ode to my journey
Remember the times when we would yearn for certain things and beings to foster their being into our lives, where what we wanted was so far-fetched, dreams that we found so unfathomable to forge their breaths in our lives? It is wondrous and almost astonishing how existence in the most unimaginable ways, how we fathom that something we can never live without, life always turns out for the better when we let go of what no longer serves us, of what we can no longer control or any experience, person, entity or situation that we outgrow in our existential being.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
Her Quote, My Journey
Today’s was one of those cold winter mornings when the air seems to be cold and everything seems to be a little more still than it was the day before. We were at our usual table in the canteen having tea with biscuits in between while chatting with friends. We enjoyed the warmth of the tea after coming from the cold, the sound of plates slapping each other joined the faint murmurs that filled the air.
By Musanif Aliabout a year ago in Confessions
Thinking about your ex during the holidays
Every relationship is different and every breakup is different. Do you think your ex really think about you during the holidays? That’s a big question, right? I wanted to talk about this because we know that so many of us struggled with doubting what was going on with your ex especially if they didn't reach out right over the holidays, right? Everybody is supposed to be happy at Christmas.
By James Odhiamboabout a year ago in Confessions
They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down
They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down On one of those quiet nights, I sat in an old café I visit whenever I feel the need for peace. While sipping my coffee, a person entered whom I hadn’t seen in years. It was my friend, whom we used to call in our youth “the icon of strength and ambition.” But he was no longer the same; his eyes were drowned in sorrow, and his features looked strangely exhausted. He paused for a moment before approaching and said with a faint smile: "It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?" I immediately stood to greet him: "Definitely! Where have you been? How are you?" He sat in front of me, silent for a moment. Then I carefully asked him: "What happened to you? You were once the epitome of youth and vitality, a confident, athletic man with a strong build. You lived a comfortable life amidst the wealth and prestige of your family. But now... you’ve changed so much. What happened?" He sighed deeply, raised his tired eyes, and said: "Let me tell you the story that destroyed my life. You’re the only one I can tell everything to." The Beginning: "I was seventeen, handsome, and full of ambition. I loved sports, and I considered walking to and from school every day as my favorite form of exercise. My life was simple, but my wealthy family spoiled me, and no one cared about what I did as long as I stayed out of trouble. One ordinary morning, while walking to school as usual, a luxury car stopped beside me. A woman of incredible beauty was sitting behind the wheel, her features exuding confidence and sophistication. She smiled at me and called out: ‘Where are you headed?’ I hesitated for a moment before replying: ‘To school.’ She laughed and said: ‘That’s a long walk, isn’t it?’ I nodded and replied: ‘I enjoy it. I consider it my exercise.’ Then she said something I didn’t expect: ‘If you love sports, I have a proposal for you. I can help you join a professional sports club. You’ll find everything you need to develop yourself there.’ I thought for a moment, and the offer was tempting. But I hesitated. I thanked her and said: ‘I prefer walking now. It suits my time.’ She smiled and insisted: ‘Just ride with me today. The school won’t wait for you long, and I’ll make up for your walk by signing you up for the club you dream of.’ I got into the car with her. I thought I was being offered a rare opportunity, not knowing that this moment would mark the beginning of the end." "They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down" After I got into the car with her that day, I began to feel something strange was happening. She drove with confidence and calmness, as if she already knew everything about me. She asked about my life, my family, and my love for sports. I answered shyly, but she was so skilled at talking, making me feel strangely comfortable with her. When we arrived at the school, she stopped the car and smiled: "Remember this day well. If you need anything, just call me." Then she gave me a card with her name and phone number. Her name was "Dunya." That day, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I kept thinking about her words and her beauty, which seemed to hide a hidden strength. I kept her card in my pocket, as if it were a treasure I didn’t want anyone to see. ________________________________________ The Second Meeting: The First Step Toward the Fall Days passed, and I tried to forget about that encounter. But one day, while walking back from school, the same car stopped beside me. She rolled down the window and said: "Are you still into walking for exercise?" I laughed and replied: "I have a meeting now, and I need you with me. Just an hour, I won’t be long." I hesitated at first, but she insisted: "You’re a noble young man, aren’t you? Don’t leave me to go alone." I agreed and got in with her once more. She took me to a luxurious office where she introduced me to a group of important people, calling me "her younger brother." The meeting felt like a performance, and she was the star. I watched how she impressed everyone and skillfully sealed a huge deal. After the meeting, she looked at me with a smile and said: "Today was a great day. I want to celebrate this success with you." She took me to a fancy hotel where there was music and gourmet food. The atmosphere was filled with luxury that I wasn’t used to. I felt lost in this world, but I was enjoying myself at the same time. When the celebration ended, she dropped me off near my house and said: "You’re a wonderful young man. I’ll need you by my side forever." ________________________________________ Slipping Toward the Abyss The same thing happened again. I began to skip school to be with her. I started living a huge lie—telling my family that I was at school while I was attending her meetings and parties. One day, she asked me to visit her house. It was a massive mansion surrounded by tall walls, with a huge guard standing at the gate. I entered with her, and inside, she said: "This is your home now. Act like you own the place." I felt fear for the first time. I told her I couldn’t stay long, but she smiled and said: "Don’t worry, you’ll be fine here." She brought me a drink and said: "You’re special to me. No one enters my life easily, but you’re different." Over time, our relationship became more like slavery. She controlled everything—my time, my decisions, and even my studies. I completely neglected my studies and failed my academic year. "They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down" My relationship with "Dunya" became so complicated that it was hard to separate from my life. She controlled my time and decided the course of my days, to the point where I felt I was living her life instead of my own. But she had this strange ability to make me feel special, as if I was the only one who could share this lavish world full of lights with her. The Last Journey Night One evening, after a long day of meetings and a night at a fancy hotel, she decided to drive me home. It was late, and as usual, she insisted on dropping me off at the nearest point to my house to avoid any suspicion. But I noticed something strange—Dunya wasn’t the same as she used to be. She had drunk a lot during the evening, and it was obvious in her driving. I tried to warn her: "You’re driving too fast. Take it easy." She laughed and said: "Don’t worry, I know the road better than you know your feet." But I wasn’t reassured. I tried again: "Dunya, you’re not in the best shape. Stop, let me help you." She shook her head and looked at me with a mysterious smile, saying: "Don’t worry about me. I’ll get you home safely like I always do." Finally, we reached a point near my house. I got out of the car, and she waved at me with a tired smile. I stood in place, watching her car drive away quickly in the darkness. The Shock The next day, I waited for her usual call, but it didn’t come. I felt anxious, so I tried calling her repeatedly, but her phone was off. I decided to go to her mansion to check on her. When I arrived there, the guard stood with a blank expression. I asked him: "Where’s Dunya? Why isn’t she answering my calls?" He looked at me silently for a few moments before saying the words I never expected: "Ms. Dunya... she died. There was an accident on her way home last night." I felt the ground spin beneath my feet. My mind couldn’t grasp what I had just heard. I froze in place, my eyes filling with tears. I was recalling her image, smiling at me before she left, her last words echoing in my ears: "Don’t worry about me." The End Dunya left, but she left behind everything mysterious and ambiguous. I couldn’t blame her, nor could I blame myself. I felt I was a part of her life just as she was a part of mine. But after her departure, I realized I had lost so much—myself, my studies, and my dreams buried under the shadows of our relationship. I stood in front of her grave days later, silent. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. All that remained inside me was emptiness, a memory of a relationship that started innocently and ended in total destruction. The Lesson Life may offer temptations that seem shiny, but they may carry endings we never expect. It’s important to know when to stop ourselves and not let anyone steal the path we’ve charted for ourselves.
By Ali Sadeek Ahmedabout a year ago in Confessions
Christmas Ain't Christmas...
Christmas? Nah, I don’t do that anymore. And before you start picturing me as some Grinch in the corner plotting to ruin the holiday for everyone else, let me explain. It’s not about stealing anyone’s joy. It’s about making a choice that feels honest for me. Christmas just doesn’t hold the same magic it once did, and over the years, I’ve found plenty of reasons to step away from the whole affair.
By Christian Bassabout a year ago in Confessions
Love, Desire, and the Ache Within
I have never tried to write on such topics, so this article will be the first of its kind regarding my new approach to writing, hoping to write things that will help me express what I think and try to understand many of the things I am trying to understand.
By Iron-Pen☑️ about a year ago in Confessions
I terminated my startup. Here's the real deal
I am announcing the closure of Zencape Health today. We have reached the conclusion of our journey after four years, two significant pivots, innumerable tests, tens of thousands of dollars in annual income, one app launch, thousands of patient encounters, and a multi-million dollar relationship with a prestigious hospital.
By Luca Müllerabout a year ago in Confessions
