I slid the bag across the counter to the hooded figure, who eyed me suspiciously. His hand darted out, dragging the bag closer as he peered inside. A moment later, his head jerked up, and he snarled, “Where did you get this?” I met his snarl with a cold smile. “There’s more where that came from. And it would be my pleasure to share it with the public—unless we can come to an agreement.” For a fleeting second, I saw terror flash in his eyes, mingled with something else… pain? But just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by the unflinching, hardened expression I had come to associate with him. The brief glimmer of fear felt like a small victory, yet I couldn’t shake the unease creeping into my thoughts. Terror, I understood. The evidence in that bag could destroy everything he’d built. But pain? Was it the ghost of an old wound or the anticipation of something unraveling? Questions churned in my mind, unanswered and unrelenting. I was standing at the edge of a dark, tangled web, and I had no choice but to dive in. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get to the bottom of this. A shiver of excitement coursed through me. The thrill of unraveling the mystery that had plagued this town for years was irresistible. I glanced at the hooded figure again as he continued to inspect the contents of the bag. The tension in the air was almost palpable. He looked like a man teetering on the edge, caught between fury and despair. In that moment, I knew: I was standing on the precipice of a story that would shake the nation to its core.

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Mabel often hears the same compliments from everyone around her: how beautiful she is, how her skin glows as radiantly as the morning sun, how her well-defined oval face and lush lips make her a vision to behold. Yet every time she looks in the mirror, she fails to see any of it. What stares back at her is a girl weighed down by the burdens of the world—a girl whose heart has been shattered beyond repair, left in shambles. Her eyes, once vibrant and filled with light, now appear hollow, lifeless, with little hope or reason to live. The compliments only deepen her despair, cutting sharper than her reflection ever could. The mirror, after all, does not lie to her the way others do—those who offer sweet words laced with ulterior motives, paying her lip service for what they hope to gain. But they do not know. They do not know that she would give up everything she has if only she could see and feel what they claim to see in her. If only she could be the girl she once was—the one whose eyes sparkled with joy before death extinguished that light. The day her entire family perished in a plane crash was the day her world turned dark, leaving her alone to navigate a world filled with predators disguised as people. “Oh, death, where is your sting? When will you finish the work you started with my family? When will your unyielding grip take this worthless life of mine?” These questions, these thoughts, plagued her mind for years. They consumed her, leaving her feeling worthless and unlovable. She never thought she would escape the shadows of grief, let alone find herself here—fully healed from the emotional trauma that once threatened to drown her. But life has a way of surprising us. Like a wise man once said, ‘There is still hope for a tree; even if it is cut down and its roots linger in the ground, at the scent of water, it will bud again.’ Mabel became that tree. She blossomed back to life, nourished by the water that came in the form of a true friend—someone who loved her deeply, taught her to love herself, and showed her how to shine her light in a world that had once seemed so dark. Mabel is no longer the girl weighed down by the mirror’s reflection. She is a survivor, a guide, and a beacon of hope for others navigating the same struggles that nearly consumed her.

Treading through the icy path, with nothing but her resolve to hold on to, she braved the untamed trail leading to her lover’s arms. The moon hung like a sentinel in the clear night sky, its silver light spilling over the snow-covered ground and making it glitter like a sea of diamonds. The cold bit at her cheeks, her breath rising in soft clouds before dissipating into the still air, but she hardly noticed. The thought of what lay ahead—and the one waiting for her—wrapped her in a warmth no winter could steal. She smiled, her lips trembling from a mix of cold and anticipation, and pressed onward. Her footsteps crunched softly against the frozen earth, breaking the night’s serene silence. In the distance, hidden by the embrace of nature, the quaint cottage came into view, its slanted roof barely visible behind the shroud of snow-dusted evergreens. A faint curl of smoke rose from its chimney, promising the comfort of a roaring fire and a love worth braving the bitter chill for. She quickened her pace, her heart leading her faster than her feet ever could, each step drawing her closer to the warmth and solace of his embrace.

Adele was fuming, pacing back and forth in our cramped one-room apartment. The bed, positioned close to the door, took up most of the space. At the foot of the bed stood our mini wardrobe, while a reading table sat by the window. The only free space was the narrow path leading to the restroom and kitchen. Suddenly, Adele stopped mid-stride, her shoulders slumping. She turned to me with a broken expression and burst into tears, looking like a wounded animal. In that moment, I saw what lay behind her anger: hurt. My heart broke as I moved to her side, pulling her into a fierce embrace. I wished I could take away her pain. In a trembling voice, she whispered, ‘I believed her. How could she do this to me?’ I had no answers that could ease her pain. It was hard for me to reconcile what Ella did with the person she pretended to be. Adele had met her a few months ago while they were both interns at the same organization. They had clicked almost instantly. It was as if they’d known each other forever. Ella was always smiling, always helpful—always there when you needed her. But now, Adele had learned the truth: Ella had only gotten close to her to steal a position she had worked so hard to prepare for. Ella had been sly about it, carefully gaining Adele’s trust and learning all the details of her plans and strategy for a major project that would determine who earned the full-time role at the organization. Then, as if it were her own, she presented Adele’s ideas to the chairman, claiming credit for them. To make matters worse, she had trash-talked Adele, painting her as incompetent and unreliable to further solidify her own position. The betrayal cut deep. It was sad to think that someone who seemed so genuine could be so calculating. But I suppose no one can hide their true self forever; like a flame, our true nature always finds a way to escape. In some ways, I could relate to Adele’s pain—finding out that someone you trusted with your heart isn’t who they claimed to be

At the thought of what once was, my heart breaks. The scars you left behind are a constant reminder of what can never be again. The silence that has replaced your hearty laughter and corny words is deafening. My heart craves closure, a chance to move on—if that is still possible for me. Yet you remain unyielding, silent, and indifferent, as though our past meant nothing. Your silence breaks me a little more each time. I wish I knew what fueled this hatred. If I could find its source, I would throw myself at its mercy, unashamedly begging for forgiveness. It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong anymore. All that matters is breaking this unspoken pact of silence and finding the strength to heal my broken heart.

Stumbling through the deserted mountain path, tired and parched for water, I wondered if I would make it out alive. My only hope was to reach a town before nightfall. Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of running water. It reignited my strength, and I pushed forward, desperate to find it. Bursting into a clearing, I saw it—a crystal-clear river. Without hesitation, I dashed toward it, cupping my palms to scoop the cool water into my mouth. The relief was indescribable. After quenching my thirst, I looked around, stunned by the breathtaking scene before me. Two rugged mountains stood like towering guardians, their peaks framing the sky. Towering trees formed a natural canopy, their leaves filtering the sunlight into golden rays that danced on the water’s surface. The birds’ cheerful songs blended with the soft trickle of the river, creating a melody that seemed to soothe my very soul. Smooth, round pebbles lined the banks, glistening like jewels in the sun. I breathed deeply, letting the cool breeze wrap around me like a gentle embrace. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt completely at peace—held in the arms of nature

There she goes again, screeching and stumping around like the world is about to end! Does she always have to be this dramatic I thought to myself, as I watched her create an unnecessary scene over what could have been laughed about or brushed off! Moments like these, are when I consider my life choices and what exactly made me choose to remain friends with someone who always chooses to pick a bone with the little things!

In your head, you have all the power, you get to choose what comes next, and you get to express yourself without holding back. In your head you don't have to watch what you say or how you say it, you are the director and producer of any movie you choose to entertain in your mind space. In your head, you can be as bold as a lion or as timid as a dove without any fear of being power drunk or being taken for granted. In your head you get to choose how your spouse or bestie responds to you, you get to add and eliminate the good and bad characters you desire. In your head, you have brilliant ideas that can change the world and you have done this on several occasions because you are the smartest person in the room, hoops I mean in your mind because you are. Staying in your head is comforting, safe, and exhilarating because you wield all the power when you shut out all the noise around and stay in your head listening to only your voice and believing in your superpowers.