Author: Rodei My
At twenty-two, the Meridian Communications intern could slip down corridors without drawing a single look. She tabbed binders by color, unjammed printers, and ate desk yogurt with headphones in—low enough to catch her name, steady enough to quiet hope. Chicago glittered beyond the glass; inside, everyone felt too busy, too big, too loud. No one there knew she was fluent in American Sign Language. She’d learned for Danny, her eight-year-old brother—falling asleep over alphabet charts with aching fingers. In a place where success thundered across conference tables, a silent tongue was its own hidden world. Vital at home. Invisible at…
The morning light filtered softly through the windows of a small roadside diner. The smell of coffee, bacon, and freshly baked pie filled the air, mingling with the low hum of an old jukebox playing a forgotten tune. Sergeant Mark Wilson sat at a corner booth, savoring his first quiet moment after a long overnight shift. He liked this kind of peace — the simple rhythm of a town just waking up. But then he noticed something that made him set down his cup. Across the room, by the window, sat a large bald man with tattooed arms. Across from…
My name is Jenna, and I am 19 years old. My mom left when I was born. My dad wasn’t in the picture either. He and my mom split up before I was born, and he never made too much effort to be a part of my life. He has another family now, and we don’t meet often. I lived with my grandma, my father’s mom. She always told me that my mom didn’t want me and that she chose to leave me behind. Grandma was always the only family I had. When she died, she left me her house…
My dad passed away three years ago, leaving me everything — the businesses, the properties, the accounts. I’d been working with him since I was a teenager, so when he was gone, taking over just felt… natural. I never questioned it. He’d always told me, “You’ll keep it running one day, son.” Then, about six months ago, a woman showed up at my office. She looked nervous but determined. She told me she was my half-sister. Apparently, my dad had a relationship before marrying my mom, and she was the result. I was skeptical, but we did a DNA test…
My sister got married last month. I wasn’t just a bridesmaid — I spent eight months helping her plan every single detail. I ran errands, met vendors, put down deposits when she was too busy, and even paid a couple of her bills when she went over budget. I wanted her day to be perfect, and honestly, seeing her happy was enough for me. But at the reception, when she stood up to give her thank-you toast, she mentioned everyone but me. She thanked her husband, his parents, her new in-laws, their friends — even a cousin who came by…
Mike worked at a luxury bridal shop and took great pride in all things extravagant. He was rather materialistic, which often made him a little judgmental. One quiet afternoon, an elderly woman named Betty walked into the store. It was unusually calm that day — only Mike and his colleague, Cassey, were working. Betty was definitely not the kind of customer the shop usually catered to. Her clothes were outdated, her hairstyle unkempt — far from what one might call “classy.” But Betty never cared much for appearances. She valued inner beauty over outward show and had never been the…
Men’s health is often reduced to a few key points: eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep. But your body is a complex and fascinating system with quirks and secrets that even the most health-conscious might overlook. Here are 5 lesser-known facts about the male body that might just surprise you. 1. Your sleep affects your testosterone. Men often underestimate the effects of sleep on their health. Men who consistently get less than 6 hours of sleep per night have significantly lower testosterone levels compared to those who sleep 7–8 hours. This decline in testosterone can affect various aspects of…
When my grandfather passed, he left me a decent inheritance. It wasn’t millions, but enough to pay off student loans, maybe buy a starter home. I was shocked — I didn’t even know I was in the will. My parents, on the other hand, were furious. They said the money should go into a ‘family fund’ so it could be used for ‘everyone’s needs’ — like my younger brother’s tuition, their mortgage, and even ‘emergency vacations’ to help them relax from stress. When I said I wanted to use it responsibly for my future, they accused me of being ‘selfish’…
My husband and I were supposed to be a team when we welcomed our first child, but instead, he turned against me. His behavior became worse by the day, and I was close to leaving him—until something shocking happened in front of our entire family. Thankfully, an unexpected intervention ended up saving our marriage. Recently, I, Mary, 25, experienced one of the most embarrassing yet eye-opening moments of my life. But before I get to that, let me backtrack a little. My husband, Jake, 29, and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Tilly, just three weeks ago. She is my entire…
Experts believe they’ve found the ‘maximum age’ that a human can live up to, and it’s bound to please people with thanatophobia, the intense fear of death or dying. According to statistics, the average American lives until they’re 78.39 years old. Meanwhile, over in the United Kingdom, life expectancy is a little higher at 81.24 years, and in Canada, it is 81.65 years. If you’re someone who can’t help but morbidly count down the clock, then we have some good news: you could likely live well past these average expectancies, according to recent research efforts. Tilburg and Rotterdam’s Erasmus universities…