Author: Emily Nguyen Le

A homeless man was told by a store worker his life had changed in the blink of an eye after winning a huge sum of money. Armando Vidal had been living on the streets for almost two decades since an injury put him out of work in Santa Maria, California, in 2008. Since then, he relocated to San Luis Obispo where he became a regular face in the area – and the store where he picked up California Lottery’s Triple Red 777 Scratchers tickets. Initially, Armando thought he had won $200, but has probably never been happier to have been…

A one-handed boy’s heart goes out to his late friend’s sick grandma, and he makes broth for her despite the difficulty of doing so with one hand. The sick older lady returns his charity in the most heartwarming way. “Do you promise me you’ll look after Gran Molly? She is tired, but she doesn’t say it, Edward,” George told his best friend in tears. He lived with his grandma after his parents abandoned him due to his leukemia diagnosis. Because Edward was his best friend, he asked Edward to watch after his grandma if his illness took him away from…

At first, I thought it was just an innocent, sweet moment. My six-year-old son, Milo, had been obsessed with drawing lately—dinosaurs with giant claws, robot battles, dragons with googly eyes. His little hands were always smudged with crayon wax or marker streaks, and there were papers scattered all over the house. But that day, something was different. He came running out of his room holding a drawing. “Mom! I made this for the policeman!” he announced, eyes bright with excitement. For illustrative purposes only I glanced over. “That’s nice, honey. Which policeman?” “You know,” he said with a shrug, “the…

When Kristen is shut out of her daughter’s new life, she’s forced to reckon with the sacrifices no one ever saw. But as one door closes, another opens, leading her to unexpected grace, quiet kinship, and a chance to show what unconditional love really looks like. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I was the whole damn village. My name is Kristen. I’m 60 now, though some days I feel older. Especially in my knees. Especially when I wake up from dreams of my daughter as a little girl and remember she’s someone’s mother now.…

Shocking videos have emerged on social media showing the dramatic moments a passenger ferry, KM Barcelona V, burst into flames off the coast of Indonesia, prompting hundreds of panicked passengers to leap into the sea. One widely circulated video was captured by passenger Abdul Rahmad Agu, who had just escaped the burning vessel. In the clip, Abdul can be seen clutching a child tightly while calling for help, his voice filled with urgency. Behind him, flames engulfed the ferry as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. He could be heard shouting that many others were still trapped onboard, while…

It was just another typical subway ride home after a long day at the office. The kind of ride where you keep your head down, earbuds in, and let the motion of the train lull you into that strange in-between space—where you’re not quite home, but the day is already behind you. The fluorescent lights above flickered faintly as the train rumbled on, and passengers around me sat lost in their own worlds. Some were glued to their phones, others stared blankly at the advertisements overhead. The atmosphere was quiet, dull, and familiar. Then, the train pulled into the next…

We’ve all done it—finished dinner, boxed up the leftovers, and tossed them in the fridge, thinking they’ll be fine tomorrow. But not all foods are created equal when it comes to overnight storage. In fact, keeping certain foods overnight can pose serious health risks due to bacterial growth, chemical changes, or nutrient loss. Here are 5 foods you should never keep overnight—and the reasons might surprise you. 1. Rice For illustrative purposes only Why It’s Dangerous: Cooked rice seems harmless, but it’s a perfect breeding ground for Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that survives even after boiling. If rice is left…

Fish is often considered a nutritional powerhouse—rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins. But not all fish are as healthy as they seem. Due to pollution, farming practices, and environmental toxins, some species carry dangerously high levels of mercury, PCBs, and other harmful chemicals. Before you shop for seafood, take note of these 12 fish you may want to avoid to protect your health and the health of your family. 1. Tilapia (Farmed) Farmed tilapia is often raised in overcrowded ponds where it’s fed a grain-based diet and exposed to antibiotics and pesticides. Studies have found farmed tilapia, especially from countries…

Virgin Atlantic have addressed passengers’ allegations that their luggage arrived covered in poo. Luggage issues is arguably one of the most annoying things about travelling. Whether it’s your bags going missing or your suitcase arriving in a bad state, I think we can all agree that it’s not the best way to start a vacation. This is something that Virgin Atlantic passengers who travelled to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport experienced on July 14. While their luggage arrived, when some items were put onto the carousel, passengers noticed a strange smell. Then, as the bags came into view,…

My name is Elise, and for the longest time, I believed family meant safety. It meant love, trust, and support—until the day that belief was shattered in the most unexpected way. It all began at what was supposed to be a joyful occasion: my dad’s 65th birthday. We gathered at my parents’ home, as we always had. I brought along my four-year-old daughter, Nora, who was brimming with excitement. She wore her favorite pink unicorn dress and clutched her stuffed elephant, Ellie, tightly in her arms. For illustrative purposes only I should’ve known better. My sister Kendra had always been…