No Tea, No Sanity (Part 4)
An influencer’s life falls apart when her best friends fall for her ex.
Abdul approaches us with a smile. "Okay?"
"We're good thanks," I say.
"Just to let you guys know, I'll be closing for a few weeks?"
"Really?" I look around to see how my friends react. Ivy is stunned and says nothing. Agnes looks as if she's going to spit some of her drink out.
Bethany widens her eyes. "Why?"
"I need to fly back home to see my family," Abdul replies with his phone in his hands. "Not seen them in four years."
"Where are you from again?" Bethany asks.
"Well, my father was born in Iran, and my mother is Filipino. I'm the only one from my family that doesn't live in Germany now."
"So you're going to Germany?" I don't know why he doesn't say Germany.
Abdul nods.
I don't know what we're going to do with Friday afternoons when this place closes. I'm not going to have the best tea of my life, and I think I'll miss this place and the atmosphere.
There's one thing that I miss more, though, and that's my Christian. Need to think of something. “Ladies…I need your help.”
“What with?” Ivy puts her phone away. Agnes nods, but is still texting.
“Help me get Christian back.”
“Oh! Why do you want him back for?” Bethany whines. “You cheat on each other, you fight and I can’t even keep track of your relationship anymore.”
“I need him.” I leaned closer to Bethany as I speak. My voice goes deeper with each syllable. They just don’t understand how serious this it. We belong together. “He needs me as much as I need him. He’ll be so lost without me.”
Bethany giggles. “He’s just a typical dude that can’t keep it in his pants.” She screeches all of a sudden and howls in laughter. “Oh my god, look at what this dude’s just sent me.” She turns her phone around.
Ivy is the only one that looks away. “Yeah whatever.”
“It’s smaller than I expected,” Agnes admits, blushing. “Why on earth are his pubes platted?”
Even if Christian shaved it all off, I’d know it was him from the muscular legs.I’ve been down on it. The tattoo on his left thigh is also a giveaway: Venus RIP scribbled above a poodle. He adored Venus, he was never the same after she was put to sleep. “Why is Christian talking to you?”
All eyes were on Bethany who couldn’t find the words to speak.
Agnes breaks the silence. “This is awkward.”
“Because he’s my personal trainer,” Bethany says with a sudden drop in volume.
Abdul strolls over to collect our empty cups. “Any of you ladies like another drink?” We all ask for a chai latte. Abdul knows how I like it, and his place is 50 cents cheaper than Starbucks. I have no idea how I’m going to cope whilst this place is closed. I can spend five hours a day drinking here. “It’s going to be strange not seeing you ladies here every day.”
He wasn’t exaggerating either. This place has been open for ten years. He brews tea and coffee from nine o’clock in the morning till eleven at night. I’m too mean to him demanding my drink to have the every last detail, but that’s just how I am. Nobody is going to make my drinks as wonderful as Abdul. His shop is one of the few that I actually pay for. I’m an influencer so I’m entitled to freebies.
Taking another selfie of myself, I pout to make my lips look fuller. I press my chest together with my free hand to make my breasts look bigger. All the make-up hides the spots, little wrinkles and every ounce of imperfection. My round face can be fixed with a filter. I love how make-up helps me reveal the real me: the pure me. I want the world to see the sparkling princess I was born to be. This is my fairytale, and Christian is my Prince Charming. I want my happily ever after and anyone who gets in my way are wicked demons.
About the Creator
Chloe Gilholy
I live in Oxfordshire, England. I used to write a lot of fan fiction and mainly just write poetry now. I've been to over 20 countries and written many books. I'm currently working on a horror story called Heavenly Seas.
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No Tea, No Sanity (Part 2)
One way or another, he’ll come back to me. He’s blocked me everywhere and he’s stealing my online presence from me. Christian and I are stronger together than apart. I miss the bickering and the plate smashing and the saucy make-up sex that came after it. We’ve had children too, not always together but we do love them. I love the attention I got from being pregnant, but I had no maternal instinct. I let my cousin adopt them in the end. I’ve not seen any of them since. Sounds harsh, but that’s the way it is. Violet wanted kids and couldn’t have any. Christian was too busy pumping iron with his customers to care about them. It all worked out in the end.
By Chloe Gilholy5 years ago in Humans
Hind Rajab: A Child the World Heard Too Late
Cinema has always been a powerful medium for telling stories that history books often reduce to numbers. When a film chooses to focus on a single child caught in the machinery of war, it forces audiences to confront reality not as statistics, but as human loss. The movie inspired by the tragic story of Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl, does exactly that. It is not merely a film; it is a testimony, a memorial, and a question posed to the conscience of the world. Hind Rajab’s name became known globally after reports emerged of her final hours during the Gaza conflict. She was a child trapped in circumstances no child should ever experience. The film based on her story does not sensationalize her death, nor does it turn her suffering into spectacle. Instead, it approaches her story with restraint, dignity, and an unwavering focus on innocence lost amid violence. The Story at the Heart of the Film The movie centers on a young Palestinian girl who becomes separated from safety during intense military escalation. Through her eyes, viewers witness fear, confusion, and the fragile hope that someone, somewhere, will come to help. The film follows her final journey—both physical and emotional—using minimal dialogue and powerful visual storytelling. Rather than relying on graphic imagery, the filmmakers choose silence, pauses, and close-up shots to convey terror and vulnerability. This artistic choice makes the film even more haunting. The audience is left to sit with the child’s fear, her calls for help, and the unbearable waiting that defines her final moments. By focusing on Hind as an individual rather than a symbol, the film restores her humanity. She is not portrayed as a political tool, but as a daughter, a child with dreams, and a life that mattered. A Child as the Center of a Global Tragedy What makes this movie particularly impactful is its refusal to shift focus away from the civilian cost of war. The story does not revolve around soldiers, strategies, or power struggles. It revolves around a child who should have been worried about school, friends, and play—not survival. This narrative choice challenges the audience to rethink how conflicts are discussed in media and politics. Wars are often framed in terms of borders, ideologies, and victory. This film asks a different question: What is the price paid by those who have no role in choosing the war? By centering the story on Hind, the film exposes the imbalance of power and the devastating consequences faced by the most vulnerable. Artistic Direction and Emotional Weight The film’s direction is deliberately restrained. There is no dramatic background score overpowering the scenes. Instead, ambient sounds—distant explosions, static-filled phone calls, the quiet breathing of a frightened child—carry the emotional weight. This realism makes the film deeply unsettling. The young actress portraying Hind delivers a performance that is heartbreakingly authentic. Her expressions alone communicate fear, confusion, and bravery far beyond her years. The filmmakers avoid overacting or melodrama, allowing the story’s truth to speak for itself. Cinematography plays a crucial role as well. Tight frames and limited perspectives reinforce the feeling of entrapment, while long, unbroken shots force viewers to experience time as Hind did—slow, uncertain, and terrifying. A Political Film Without Political Speeches One of the film’s greatest strengths is that it does not rely on speeches or overt political messaging. Its power lies in its simplicity. By telling one child’s story honestly, it exposes the broader reality of civilian suffering in conflict zones. The film does not tell audiences what to think. Instead, it asks them to feel—and that is far more powerful. Viewers are left to grapple with difficult questions about responsibility, accountability, and the value of human life. This approach has made the movie resonate across cultures and ideologies. Even those unfamiliar with the details of the Palestinian struggle can connect with the universal themes of childhood, fear, and loss. Reception and Global Impact Since its release, the film has sparked intense discussion on social media, in film circles, and among human rights advocates. Many viewers describe it as one of the most emotionally challenging films they have ever watched. Critics have praised its ethical storytelling and refusal to exploit tragedy. For many, the movie serves as an entry point into understanding the human cost of the Gaza conflict. It has been screened at independent film festivals and community events, often followed by discussions about civilian protection and children in war zones. Most importantly, the film ensures that Hind Rajab’s name is not forgotten. In a world where news cycles move quickly, cinema has given her story permanence. Why This Film Matters This movie matters because it stands against normalization of suffering. It reminds us that behind every headline about war are real people, real families, and real children whose lives are forever altered—or ended. By immortalizing Hind Rajab’s story, the film becomes an act of resistance against silence. It insists that her life had meaning and that her death deserves acknowledgment, reflection, and accountability. In the end, this is not just a film about one Palestinian girl. It is a film about every child trapped in conflict, every unanswered call for help, and every moment when humanity fails its youngest members. Cinema cannot undo tragedy, but it can refuse to let it be ignored. And in doing so, this film ensures that Hind Rajab’s story continues to speak—long after the screen fades to black.
By Hasbanullah6 days ago in Humans
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