She chose me
I never knew about the unknown until I came across a little black book
There I was sitting inside my car. My head leaning against the window, as I sat behind the steering wheel looking out. It was snowing, and it was beautiful. White snowflakes landing on the windshield . Im extremely tired, emotionally exhausted and physically drained. How can I plan out my life, and it not manifest? I contributed my life to working, and being the best at what I do no matter what I chose as employment. I was healing and leveling up in my life. To become the best woman I am. Mother and teacher to my children. Fulfilling my dream. Now currently it’s day three of losing my home. I yelled, “Why?!! Why?!! Why?!!” So angry I felt, now tears coming to my eyes. Eventually escaping eventually trickling down my cheeks. It’s like everything did a turn for the worse. The COVID-19 virus came. And most of the people in China and America never witnessed anything like this. The Corona is a virus that attacks your respiratory, but we need oxygen to live. To breathe! It’s incredible the times we are living through. Aside from the stress of the pandemic I had nowhere to go. My children are along me at this time , making it more challenging and torment on myself. It’s also the middle of the winter with frigid temperatures. Single digit temperatures! Living in Ohio, the winters are a hit or miss. But this winter seemed to be the coldest I can remember. Maybe it was because of my situation. My brain tries to process so many different things at once. I couldn’t do it, I won’t do it I thought to myself. I turned in my seat to look in the back. I stared at my babies, my children, detailing their perfect faces. Beautiful and they have their own special light. They are important. They are my offsprings, a better version of me. I want them to be failed them, once again I thought. I fixed the blankets over their legs and made sure I tucked their hands underneath the covers. It was warm in the car as I kept it running while parked. They were sleep. Three girls. Ages, twelve, seven and six. I loved them more than I loved myself, but I was starting to doubt that. How could I let this happen? Why did I not reach out for help as soon as possible for assistance? Why am I such a damn procrastinator?! I thought to myself, and as I looked at them, more thoughts ran thru my mind. Finally I thought, what am I going to do? I can potentially lose my children if anyone found out about this. I need a plan and I need it now!
The beginning
“Hey Ms. Dorothy, how are you doing today”? She replied, “not well, I’ve been sore all day, these damn muscle relaxers aren’t helping”! Ms. Dorothy is an older lady that I help take care of. She was able to care for herself, just needed a helping hand throughout the week. To ensure her house is clean, that she’s ate and taken her medicine. I proceeded to help her into her favorite rocking chair. I pulled off her shoes, and massaged her feet. She loved to be rubbed, considering she would get painful cramps through her body. The cause was unknown. I told her to wait one minute while I called her doctor and let him know what’s going on. As I stood, she pulled my hand, she said “ it a black book in my treasure chest, please read it, entirely”! I was confused. “ a black book”? I asked. “What’s it about, Ms.Dorothy”? She started coughing really hard and sounded pretty bad. Her voice got hoarse. She said, “ just read it and to you shall come a financial gain. “Do not tell anyone”! Just get it and go take care of your family. I didn’t know what she was talking about. I called her doctor, no answer, so I left a message. I ran into the kitchen to grab her glass of water, when I returned to her in the living room, I propped her up and put the cup to her mouth. She took a few sips. I asked, “are you okay?” I called your doctor and left a message, he should call shortly. She responded “yes hunny, I’m fine”. “Go ahead to the attic and get the little black book out the treasure chest”. So I did. I went to the third floor of her home and seen the brown door at the end of the hall. I turned the knob and went up stairs. It was pretty dark going up. As I let my hand slide against the walls I was able to locate a light switch. At the flick of the switch, I there it was the only thing in the attic, a treasure chest. I opened and there it was a black notebook. Great leather material, with a golden elastic closure and a golden bookmark to compliment it. On the back engraved gold letters that speaker MOLESKINE®️. Beautiful texture, with pretty ivory colored pages through the book. Interestingly the only thing it said was “ you are chosen. You are handpicked to receive a gift from the elite. This book holds magic. Please take this book and share your story to one who needs to hear wisdom. When finished, put in a safe dark place until you choose who deserves this blessing. Ms. Dorthy said read it entirely, but there wasn’t much to read at all. Suddenly, the chest started glowing. A light was leaking though. I was a little scared, thinking what is it? What’s going on? But I opened it once again, and to my surprise there was a large amount of money. I was shocked! “Omg”! I yelled out. I then reached over and grabbed the little black book, to open it and now it says, “ the gift is yours”. Please follow the instructions given in the beginning. The book now shined a purple light upon my face, I cried, staring at the book as of it has taken ahold of me. Then suddenly ,I heard a yell, I then dropped the book. It’s like I came back to reality. I grabbed the book, I grabbed the money out of the chest and put it a bag that was also in the chest. I ran downstairs, only to find Ms.Dorthy was sleep. But something wasn’t right, she didn’t go to sleep that fast and I swore I heard someone yell. I went closer towards her, put my face close to hers. She wasn’t breathing. She had passed. I began to form tears in my eyes. I kneeled down and put my head in her lap. “What is going on”? I said out loud. What just happened I thought. I turned around and the money was still there and the little black book. I counted the money which was wrapped in money labels. All together 20,000 dollars. Now what? Now what do I do? Am I dreaming? She’s dead, I have a whole lot of uncounted for money in front of me! I pulled out my cell and called 911. Now I have to hide the money, I feel so bad. Ms. Dorthy always mentioned witchcraft and believing in the unknown. Is it true? All the stories she told me of her ancestors and their capabilities? Could it possibly be true, and I just witnessed it? I guess so. I need to know more about this little black book.
About the Creator
Marion Ball
I have a creative mind. I’m always creating a vision in my head, I know it’s an illusion. But, it’s beautiful. What I can create, I can’t seem to manifest. So why not, put it on paper. Hopefully starting there it can be brought to life.
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The Last Flame Challenge Winners
Holding the Flame When Everything Else Goes Dark Every challenge promises a winner, but not every challenge creates survivors. The Last Flame Challenge was never about speed, applause, or spectacle. It was about endurance—about who could protect a single, fragile flame when the world around them tested every limit of body, mind, and spirit. The winners of the Last Flame Challenge were not simply the strongest or the loudest. They were the ones who understood something ancient: that survival is not always about domination, but about preservation. About guarding what matters when exhaustion whispers surrender. This is not just a story of victory. It is a story of restraint, resilience, and quiet courage. What the Last Flame Challenge Really Represented At its surface, the Last Flame Challenge appeared simple: participants were tasked with protecting a flame under increasingly difficult conditions—cold, wind, fatigue, isolation, and time. But beneath the rules lived symbolism. The flame represented: Hope when resources disappear Discipline when comfort fades Focus when chaos grows louder Purpose when motivation collapses To keep the flame alive was to prove mastery over panic. It required patience instead of force, awareness instead of aggression. In a world obsessed with conquering, this challenge asked participants to protect instead. The Psychology of Endurance Endurance challenges expose something brutal and honest: the mind fails long before the body does. Participants reported moments where: Hands trembled, not from cold, but doubt Silence became heavier than noise Time stretched until minutes felt endless The winners were not immune to fear or fatigue. They simply learned not to negotiate with them. They understood that endurance is not about eliminating discomfort—it is about refusing to let discomfort make decisions for you. Why Most People Failed Many entered the challenge confident. Strong. Prepared. Most failed. Why? Because they underestimated subtle exhaustion. The flame did not extinguish itself dramatically. It flickered quietly. Participants looked away for a moment too long. Hands moved too fast. Breath became careless. Failure came not from collapse, but from small neglect. This is the lesson the challenge taught mercilessly: Most defeats are not loud. They are quiet. The Winners’ Mindset What separated the winners from everyone else was not talent, strength, or preparation alone. It was mindset. They shared common traits: An acceptance of discomfort An ability to slow down under pressure Emotional regulation under stress Respect for limits without surrendering to them They did not rush. They did not panic. They treated the flame as something alive—not an object, but a responsibility. Silence as a Weapon One of the most unexpected elements of the Last Flame Challenge was silence. No cheering. No guidance. No reassurance. The winners learned to sit inside silence without filling it with fear. They used quiet as a tool—listening to breath, movement, and instinct. Silence stripped away performance. What remained was truth. The Ritual of Repetition Victory did not come from dramatic moments. It came from repetition. Adjust. Shield. Breathe. Wait. Over and over again. The winners respected routine. They turned care into ritual. Each movement was intentional. Each breath controlled. In this way, the challenge became meditative. Almost sacred. Physical Limits vs Mental Collapse Observers often assume endurance challenges are physical tests. The Last Flame Challenge proved otherwise. Participants who were physically strong but mentally scattered failed early. Those who conserved energy, controlled emotion, and stayed present endured. The flame did not care about muscle. It responded to attention. The Final Hours: When Identity Is Tested As time passed, the challenge became less about winning and more about identity. Participants began asking themselves: Why am I still here? What happens if I fail now? Who am I without this flame? The winners did not answer these questions directly. They returned to the moment. To the flame. To the next breath. They understood that survival happens now, not in imagined futures. Victory Without Applause When the challenge ended, there was no eruption. No celebration. No spectacle. The winners stood quietly, flame still burning. Their victory was internal. They had proven something not just to others—but to themselves: That they could stay present under pressure. That they could protect something fragile despite exhaustion. That they could endure without becoming rigid. Why the Last Flame Challenge Resonates Today In a modern world driven by speed, noise, and performance, the Last Flame Challenge feels almost radical. It rewards: Stillness over speed Awareness over force Care over conquest It mirrors modern life more than we admit. We are all protecting something fragile—mental health, relationships, purpose, hope—while external pressures threaten to extinguish it. The winners remind us that survival today is not about burning brighter—but about burning longer. Lessons Beyond the Challenge The Last Flame Challenge leaves behind lessons that extend far beyond competition: Attention is power Calm is a skill Patience outlasts intensity Care is strength, not weakness In an age of burnout, these lessons feel urgent. The Flame as a Metaphor for Life Every person carries a flame. For some, it is ambition. For others, love. For many, simply the will to keep going. The world will test it—through pressure, distraction, exhaustion, and doubt. The winners of the Last Flame Challenge did not conquer the world. They protected what mattered. Conclusion: Why the True Winners Were Changed Forever Long after the flame was extinguished, the winners carried something permanent. They learned: How to remain calm when things shake How to care when energy fades How to endure without hardening They did not leave with trophies alone. They left with proof of inner mastery. And perhaps that is the greatest victory of all.
By Zahid Hussain6 days ago in Humans
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