Nonfiction
Not That Woman
I was always enamored by Mary Kay ladies and the women at church potlucks. They were always pressed and perfumed, powdered and primped- like Lucy & Desi’s neighbors had walked out of the screen. Even then, they were a bit old-fashioned. But that Doris Day, Barbie aesthetic was powerful. It was reinforced by the Girl Scout Den Mother, who smelled like Aqua Net and Pine-Sol. The tidiest, prettiest ladies were the most listened to. They could walk for days in high heels and A-line skirts, then wash dishes in frilly aprons without breaking stride.
By Danielle Katsouros7 months ago in Chapters
Real Love vs. Infatuation: 6 Psychological Signs You've Found The Real Deal
You can’t sleep. You can’t eat. Your phone lighting up with their name sends a jolt of electricity straight to your heart. It feels like love—it really does. But is it the real deal, or just a spectacular case of infatuation?
By Epic Vibes7 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 2
In a previous incarnation, I worked as a hotel concierge. Although it’s a divisive topic in Australia, tipping is definitely part of this industry. Armed with the inside knowledge, through years of personal experience, I understand and often embrace the power of tipping when travelling. Unlike an exploitative bribe, it is best viewed as an exchange for above average service. If executed right, tipping is mutually beneficial for both the customer and worker. In saying that, it is more of an art than a strict set of guidelines. Our trip to Pakistan was a great real-world example of this craft in action.
By S. J. Leahy7 months ago in Chapters
Podunk
I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. I wanted to lie on my side, knees curled up in the fetal position, and watch made-for-TV movies with the bedroom lit up through the blinds. My body wanted the rest, but my brain fought suffocating thoughts, so I went for a walk.
By Jeremiah Gardner7 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 1
Years ago, returning from Europe, I was stopping over in Dubai airport. Exploring the cavernous terminal, I found myself needlessly gliding along a travelator, when something abruptly commanded my attention. Drifting across my field of vision, like a cloud blocking the sun in an otherwise vacant sky, was a group of guys draped in flowing white robes. Clad in black and sporting a large, messy afro, I was the shade behind the cloud. On the outside, we shared no resemblance.
By S. J. Leahy7 months ago in Chapters
Steps of Liberation: Paths to Wholesome Freedom - Part 3
There is a weight heavier than grief .. The weight of shame you were never meant to carry. After the dust of my divorce had settled and I’d begun to find my footing, I noticed something lurking beneath my progress. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t fear.
By Yvey Essen7 months ago in Chapters
Steps of Liberation: Paths to Wholesome Freedom
The first thing I noticed was the silence. Not the peaceful kind that wraps around you like a soft blanket - but the kind that echoes. The kind that reminds you of absence. The kind that sits across from you at the dinner table and dares you to say something. Anything.
By Yvey Essen8 months ago in Chapters
