Secrets
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Everyone Online.
You’re waiting for your coffee to brew, or you’re ticking off the time before bed, and suddenly you’re ten minutes into someone else’s highlight reel. A wedding in Bali. A promotion announcement. Perfectly styled kids in spotless homes. She just had her third child and still looks like she stepped out of a fashion ad. He’s buying his second home at 28. They’re building a life you never dreamed possible.
By Echoes of Life6 months ago in Confessions
Being the ‘Strong One’ Nearly Destroyed Me
They called me the “strong one.” It was meant as a compliment, I think. I was the one everyone leaned on. The one who stayed calm in a crisis. The one who didn’t cry at funerals. The one who offered advice, gave rides, picked up the pieces. I was the dependable one. The helper. The fixer.
By Azmat Roman ✨6 months ago in Confessions
They Still Don’t Know Who I Really Am — And I’m Done Explaining
I spent most of my life explaining myself. Justifying my decisions. Smoothing over my rough edges to keep everyone comfortable. I’d rehearse conversations in my head before speaking — making sure my tone wasn’t too sharp, my words not too bold, and my presence not too much.
By Azmat Roman ✨6 months ago in Confessions
The Bench by the Bus Stop
There’s a bench by the bus stop near my old school. You wouldn’t notice it if you weren’t looking. It’s rusted along the sides, the paint chipped from too many summers and rainy seasons. The wood creaks when you sit down, but it never breaks — a lot like the people who used to sit there.
By lamaar dowdy6 months ago in Confessions
The Day I Gave Up “Just in Case''
I Thought I Was Practical: I Used to Hold on to Everything — Old Chargers, Broken Picture Frames, Clothes That Didn’t Fit, Expired Cosmetics, Even Paper Bags From My Favorite Stores. I Told Myself I Was Smart. That Day, I Would Need Them. That Day, They Would Serve a Purpose. In my mind, “Just in Case” became a form of preparedness — proof that I was responsible, resourceful, even wise. I didn’t want to be the person who threw something away and later regretted it.
By Echoes of Life6 months ago in Confessions
Decluttering my house healed my mind.
The Mask of a “Clean” Life For years, my apartment seemed fine—at least on the surface. Visitors often commented on how “cute” or “cozy” my place was. But they didn’t notice what was buried behind closet doors, inside kitchen drawers, or under my bed. The truth was, I had mastered the art of “surface cleaning.” With ten minutes’ notice, I could make anything look acceptable: toss papers into a bag, put clutter in a closet, wipe down the counter, and smile.
By Echoes of Life6 months ago in Confessions
The Secret I Carried for 20 Years Almost Killed Me
They say time heals all wounds, but whoever said that never carried a secret so heavy it suffocated them for two decades. For 20 years, I walked around like a ghost—smiling in pictures, laughing at the right moments, showing up at work, raising a family. On the outside, I was the definition of stability. Inside? I was crumbling. Because every day I woke up with the weight of a lie that clawed at my chest, begging to be let out.
By Azmat Roman ✨6 months ago in Confessions
Human Monsters part 4. AI-Generated.
Lawrence Zink, from his seat, began to strike Nicholas with his fists. Everything that Rowan had said about the two women was essentially information regarding Lawrence's wife and daughter. He could not bear the very existence of the man who had completely destroyed his life.
By ADIR SEGAL6 months ago in Confessions
There Is an Invisible Cord Around My Heart
Tightening Some mornings, I wake up already caught. The cord is there, pressing. Not like a noose, not quite. But more like someone pulling gently on a thread behind my ribs. A tension without hands. A breath I forgot to take. I sit on the edge of the bed, motionless, watching the light change on the floor. Like maybe if I stay still enough, the world won’t notice I’ve cracked.
By Alain SUPPINI6 months ago in Confessions
