fact or fiction

Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our family dynamics, traditions, and if there's such thing as a 'perfect family.'

The Man Who Claimed to Be My Father Had Proof--But I Knew It Was a Lie
Not because I thought it was funny. But because it was so absurd it seemed like something from a movie. He looked nothing like me. He was tall, pale, wiry, with sharp cheekbones and dark eyes that felt too cold.
By MALIK Saad9 months ago in Families
The Power of Social Touch
In a world increasingly shaped by technology and virtual interaction, social touch remains one of the most profound and essential forms of human communication. Whether it's a warm hug, a pat on the back, or a friendly handshake, these small gestures carry immense emotional and psychological weight. But what exactly is social touch, and why does it matter so much?
By its_ishfaq_ahmad9 months ago in Families
A Story of Quiet Healing
There was a time when I believed that healing required silence and distance—that the only way to recover from emotional wounds was to retreat, to be alone, and to simply wait until the pain faded on its own. It wasn’t until I met with Soophie and how wrong I was. It was not love at first sight. There were no grand gestures, no spark that lit up the sky. What Soophie offered instead was consistency—a quiet, steady kind of presence that I had never known before. He was the kind of person who remembered how you liked your tea, who noticed when your smile didn’t quite reach your eyes, and who never demanded explanations, only offered space and warmth. At that time, I was navigating the aftermath of a fractured past—a mixture of disappointments, unspoken grief, and the sort of loneliness that doesn’t announce itself but settles in your bones. I had built walls, not out of arrogance but out of necessity. I believed it was the only way to survive. Soophie didn’t try to break those walls. She didn’t push, pry, or ask for more than I could give. She simply stayed. And sometimes, the most powerful kind of love is the one that waits with you in silence rather than dragging you into the light. I remember one evening in particular. It was raining, and I had one of those days when everything felt a little too heavy. Without saying much, Soophie came over with a book I had mentioned in passing weeks ago. She didn’t ask what was wrong. She just sat beside me, handed me the book, and let the quiet fill the space between us. That small gesture—thoughtful, intentional, and free of expectation—was one of the first threads that began to stitch something back together in me. Healing, I learned, doesn’t always come from monumental acts. Often, it is found in the soft things: a hand on your shoulder, a kind word at the right time, a message that simply says, “I’m here.” It’s found in the people who listen without trying to fix you, who allow you to be a little broken while still believing in your wholeness. In Soophie’s presence, I slowly began to reclaim parts of myself I had buried long ago. I started to laugh again—not the polite kind of laughter you offer in public, but the full, unguarded kind that escapes when you feel truly safe. I found myself speaking more openly, not because I was asked to, but because I wanted to. With every conversation, every gentle moment, I began to feel less like a collection of wounds and more like a person again. One evening, I asked her, “Why do you care so much?” It wasn’t a challenge—it was genuine curiosity. She looked at me for a moment and said, “Because I know what it’s like to need someone and not have them show up. I promised myself I’d never let someone I care about feel that alone.” That answer stayed with me. It made me realize that care is often born from experience. Those who offer love freely are often the ones who’ve known its absence. And perhaps that’s what makes their love so powerful—not its perfection, but its intention. Months passed, and while not everything was magically fixed, something inside me shifted. I no longer walked through my days waiting for the pain to pass. Instead, I learned to walk with it—with more kindness, more understanding, and a growing sense that I was not alone in my journey. Soophie never claimed to heal me. But in truth, her care did. Not by erasing the past, but by helping me see that I was more than what had happened to me. Her love didn’t rush, didn’t demand change. It simply offered room to breathe, to fall apart when needed, and to gather strength again. And in that quiet space she created, I began to mend—not all at once, but piece by piece, moment by moment. Love, I’ve come to understand, is not always loud or overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s found in the most unassuming gestures. It’s found in people who stay when it would be easier to walk away. It’s found in the way someone remembers the small details that make you feel seen. Healing through love isn’t a dramatic process. It’s slow, like the changing of seasons. But with time, care begins to restore what pain tried to destroy. And now, when I think about love, I think about the gentle touches that mended what was broken—not all at once, but enough to begin again.
By Sajid 9 months ago in Families
RiverScapes
Rivers from the ground are seen as moving lifelines that sustain cities, forests, and civilizations. From space, rivers become breathtaking works of nature—curving lines of glinting blue, green, and gold winding through Earth's crust like threads of life. River systems, imaged by satellites and astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), show the stunning beauty and intricacy of our world from a vantage point few people ever get to experience directly.
By mukesh jaiswar9 months ago in Families
"A Mother's Love, Unwritten but Felt"
There are some stories that don’t need to be written down to be remembered. They live in the quiet moments, in gestures that go unnoticed by the world but are deeply felt by those closest. This is one such story — the story of my mother.
By muhammad khalil9 months ago in Families
My Daughter’s DNA Test Exposed a Secret My Husband Took to His Grave
It started as a harmless birthday gift. Our daughter, Lily, had just turned 16. She’s always been fascinated with stories—myths, history, family lore. So I bought her one of those ancestry DNA kits. “Let’s see if you’ve got Viking blood,” I joked as she swabbed her cheek and sealed the envelope.
By Noman Khan 9 months ago in Families
The Secret of Life, Told by My Mother-in-Law
I never thought I’d hear the secret of life in a kitchen filled with the smell of cardamom and ginger tea. And I certainly didn’t expect to hear it from my mother-in-law.
By Atif khurshaid9 months ago in Families
She Took the Truth to Her Grave—But Not Before Telling Me First
I always thought the hardest part of losing someone would be the grief—but it turns out, the hardest part was living with the truth they left behind.
By Muhammad 9 months ago in Families
My Mother-In-Law’s Last Words Unlocked a Secret That Changed My Marriage Forever
Marriage is built on love, trust, and shared truths—or so I thought. I never imagined that my mother-in-law’s final words would change everything I believed about my relationship. Her secret, hidden for years, surfaced in her last moments and forever altered my marriage, my sense of family, and the man I thought I knew.
By Muhammad 9 months ago in Families
The Silent Light of a Mother's Love
The Silent Light of a Mother's Love There was once a woman named Ayesha, a mother whose world had been plunged into darkness long before she could even understand the weight of the word. Born with perfect vision, Ayesha had once admired the beauty of the world around her. But life had a different plan, and at the age of 20, she lost her sight to a rare disease. Her world became black, silent, and empty.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Families
Practice Self-Care
And all these things need to be done on the base of the Foundation of Healing—Caring for oneself. Healing is more than just what takes place when you’re ill or feeling poorly. It’s about creating the conditions that allow for well-being to flourish in all aspects of your life — emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Self-care is the heart of recovery from traumatization because it helps us find our balance, resilience and soul-health. It requires intention, presence, and intention.
By Laila Sadia9 months ago in Families
My Mother-in-Law Unlocked Secrets That Changed My Marriage Forever in to easy
When I first got married, I believed love alone would sustain our relationship. I thought the wedding vows, the honeymoon phase, and shared dreams would be enough. What I didn’t expect was that the greatest turning point in my marriage would come not from my partner—but from my mother-in-law.
By Shah saab IT9 months ago in Families