Classical
Hearts Against the Storm
The first time I saw Alya, she was standing beneath the old mulberry tree in our school’s back garden, sunlight tangled in her hair, her scarf fluttering like a silent rebellion against the breeze. She was humming to herself — unaware, I think, that someone was falling in love with her from across the corridor.
By Mehmood Niazabout a year ago in Fiction
The Prince of Edgerton
I don't know who to marry. I don't know what woman would fulfill the role of my grandmother. My grandmother was Queen for forty years and she was well loved. It's gonna be hard to replace her. Everyday I think of my grandmother because she raised me. My mother died when I was born. And I never knew her that well but thank God for grandmother who guided me through all my years of growth and development. My father placed me in her care because of his grief over mother's death. My mother was in line to replace my grandmother as the Queen and Monarch. And my father would have been her consort King. This is the tradition of Edgerton since the 14th Century. And now I am placed with the task of finding a spouse. Even royal training could not prepare me for this. Prince Edward Prince Edward you needed. I have found thirteen women who matched what you are looking for in a woman. Some are smart. Some are talented. Some are witty. Some are pleasant. And all are beautiful. Hmm let me look at their names. No no no I don't know about this. I don't know about that. I don't know this. Well it is gonna take me some time here. I would leave the list with you. And after days it took me sometime because Edgerton would not bow to any Queen. They wanted a Queen with the right name and beauty and elegance. And it is very hard choosing a mate with these names. Plus some of them are hard to pronounce. I got to find out more about these ladies and choose the right one. And the Prime Minister pronounced the names. And so I asked for their middle names. Ohh I like Alexandrina. Or maybe Victoria. Or maybe Katherine. Yeah I think one of those may make a great Queen. And the Prime Minister of Edgerton told the ladies about their selection. And Prince Edward met with them individually. And they were all lovely and well dressed and elegant in their own way. And the Prime Minister asked Prince Edward but Prince Edward was enjoying the loveliness of the ladies and was caught in their gaze. And so the Prime Minster conducted the selection process. And the Prince asked the questions. And the questions was what is your background? What's your personal interest? And how old are you?. Katherine said i am from a prestigious family, my father was a loyal subject advanced by the Queen to do noble tasks and to represent the throne. He did this for many years and never regretted it. He loved to work for the Royal Family and build up his country. I am an independent woman. I walk in my father's footsteps. And I do not need much help. I am clever and smart enough to do what I need to do. And I just look for my future husband to do the same. And I am five years older than you my Prince. Then it was Victoria, I come from a business family, my family served the Crown by serving the Queen on many occasions. We were proud to help with State's dinners and serve diplomats around the world. I am very dependent because my father taught me that I should look to my future husband for advice. And that I should submit to him and ask him what I need all the time. I am very loyal and my wish is your wish my Prince. And I am eight years older than you. Finally it was Alexandrina, my parents died when I was young and I was adopted by one of your Honorary Generals. I never knew much about my parents except that they were in love for the short time that they lived. They were dedicated to each other. They were fighting for each other. And like Romeo and Juliet they died together. And I promise to find a love like my parents no matter how long and no matter how short. so the world would know that I have love and that love is amazing, wonderful and moving. I am not dependent or independent. I preferred to be both because you never know when you need your love or your love need you. And life has many courses and changes that you cannot predict. And I am the same age as you Oh Fair Prince. So the Prince Minister interrupted and escorted the Prince out. And the Prime Minister decided and Prince Edward said grandmother told me one thing that she remembered about mother and father that convinced them that they had love, it was a dance. I would like to dance with Alexandrina. And so the Prime Minister escorted Alexandrina into the dance hall. And the music played as Prince Edward stared at Alexandrina and Alexandrina stared at Prince Edward. And Prince Edward asked her to dance. And she said she did not know how. And he offered to lead her. And they danced lovely, elegantly and beautifully. And after several songs Alexandrina tripped on the Prince and they kissed. So Alexandrina became Queen and they lived happily ever after.,
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primousabout a year ago in Fiction
MISSING: A World War II Story of Love, Friendship, Courage, and Survival
On the ninth day of the brutal Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, 2nd Lt. Donald N. Evans, a young American fighter pilot, flew his P-47 Thunderbolt over the icy forests of Belgium. The mission was routine—until enemy fire ripped through his aircraft. With only seconds to spare, Don bailed out of his burning plane, parachuting into the bitter cold and snow-covered chaos below. He landed behind enemy lines, wounded and alone, with a shattered leg and no clear direction to safety. In the unforgiving wilderness of the Ardennes Forest, Don crawled and limped through snowdrifts, driven only by willpower and the hope of surviving. On Christmas Eve, he found shelter beneath a pine tree. He was starving, freezing, and completely isolated. All around him, artillery echoed through the hills, and enemy patrols searched the woods. He lay silent, consumed by pain and fear, unsure whether he’d ever see his family or homeland again. But Don’s journey was just beginning. Soon after, he was discovered and captured by German SS troops—the most feared paramilitary arm of the Nazi regime. Alongside hundreds of other American prisoners, Don was forced to endure a brutal 200-mile march through enemy territory in the depths of winter. Weak from injury and hunger, he was pushed to his physical and emotional limits. The prisoners endured freezing temperatures, constant abuse from guards, and total uncertainty about their fate. Many didn’t survive. Those who did, like Don, were later imprisoned in German POW camps, where survival became a daily battle of endurance and inner strength. That Don Evans survived is nothing short of a miracle. But his story isn’t only one of suffering—it’s also one of profound love, loyalty, and human connection. Born into poverty in a small American town, Don was the classic all-American boy. He was a natural leader, student body president, a gifted athlete, and deeply optimistic about the future. At eighteen, he enrolled in college and fell in love with his high school sweetheart, Laura Jeanne. They were young, hopeful, and full of dreams for the life they planned to build together. Then came December 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor pulled America into the war, and Don, like so many others, answered the call to serve. Before shipping out to Europe, he and Laura Jeanne married, clinging to the belief that love would survive—even through the fires of war. Don became part of the 368th Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force. There, he formed an unbreakable bond with four other young pilots, calling themselves simply “The Five.” Together, they flew dangerous missions over Nazi-occupied territory, supporting ground troops and risking their lives daily. Their brotherhood—built in the skies over Europe—provided strength, courage, and a deep emotional connection in the face of constant danger. One of the most intimate and moving elements of Don’s story is the series of letters he and Laura Jeanne exchanged during the war. These deeply personal letters reveal their unwavering love, their fears, their dreams, and the emotional lifeline that kept them going. Through their words, readers gain a rare, firsthand glimpse into the emotional toll of war—not only for the soldiers on the front lines, but also for those waiting anxiously back home. The story of MISSING is crafted through a rich blend of firsthand letters, journal entries, mission reports, and interviews. It offers not just historical facts but a deeply human portrait of a young couple swept up in world-changing events. It explores themes of love, friendship, sacrifice, and survival in one of history’s darkest chapters. By war’s end, Don returned home forever changed—scarred in body and spirit, but alive. His reunion with Laura Jeanne was the fulfillment of a promise whispered across oceans and battlefields, a testament to the endurance of hope and love. The young man who had once huddled alone beneath a pine tree in a frozen forest had come home—not unchanged, but unbroken. MISSING is more than a war story. It is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of love to sustain us, and the friendships that give us strength when everything else is stripped away. In a time of global darkness, Don Evans’ story shines as a beacon of courage and humanity
By Israr khanabout a year ago in Fiction
The Riverside Road - Part One
“Mr. Li, this letter appears to be the last words written by your late son, Hudson. We found it in your room, and it appears to be addressed to you.” Detective Williams produced a folded envelope and handed it across to the man dressed in mourning clothes beside him.
By Matthew Yuabout a year ago in Fiction
Digital Dust
The data morgue smelled like ozone and loneliness. Maya adjusted her luminescent hazmat suit’s hood, the hiss of filtered air her only companion. Before her stretched Server Vault 7—miles of abandoned user profiles, decaying chat logs, and forgotten memories scheduled for permanent deletion. Her job: scrub digital graves clean.
By Habibullahabout a year ago in Fiction
Hidden Fear
To everyone else, Ali was fearless. He cracked jokes in crowds. Led presentations at work like a pro. Took risks, smiled big, and said things like “Life’s too short to be scared.” But there was one thing no one knew — Ali was living with a fear that he had never spoken out loud. Not because it was silly. Not because it was rare. But because it was the kind of fear you carry in your chest quietly, every single day — the kind that people can’t see, but you never stop feeling. --- The Fear of Not Being Enough Ali’s hidden fear wasn’t about heights, spiders, or the dark. It wasn’t about losing a job or failing a test. It was this: > “What if I’m not enough for the people who love me?” What if, one day, they all realize he’s not as smart, not as funny, not as kind as they think? What if they only like the version of him that performs well — not the one who struggles at 2 a.m. with anxiety and self-doubt? --- The Perfect Son Who Felt Like a Fraud Growing up, Ali had always been “the responsible one.” He got good grades. Helped at home. Never got into trouble. His parents called him “their pride.” His younger siblings looked up to him. Teachers loved him. Friends trusted him. But as the praise piled up, so did the pressure. He felt like he had to keep performing, or he’d disappoint everyone. Even when he was exhausted, he smiled. Even when he was confused, he acted confident. Even when he was falling apart, he kept saying, “I’m good.” He wore his success like armor. But inside, he was terrified someone would see the cracks. --- Anxiety in Disguise You’d never know Ali had anxiety. He went to the gym. Went out with friends. Posted Instagram stories with filters and laughter. But late at night, lying in bed with the lights off, the fear came creeping in like smoke. What if I fail them? What if I can’t keep it together forever? What if they love a version of me that isn’t even real? These thoughts didn’t scream — they whispered. But they never stopped. --- The Moment Everything Broke One night, Ali forgot to mute his phone and a voice note from his boss played out loud in front of his family. “Great job on that project, Ali. You’ve outdone yourself again — honestly, I don’t know how you manage it all.” Everyone smiled. His mother said proudly, “That’s my son.” Ali smiled too — but his hands were shaking under the table. Because the truth was, that project had drained him. He’d worked three nights with barely any sleep. He wasn’t proud — he was exhausted. And he didn’t even like his job anymore. That night, after everyone went to bed, Ali sat on his balcony with tears in his eyes. For the first time, he admitted the truth to himself: > “I’m scared they only love the version of me who keeps winning.” And admitting that felt like taking off a mask he didn’t know he’d been wearing for years. --- The Beginning of Courage The next day, Ali did something he’d never done before. He called his closest friend and said: > “Can I tell you something without you trying to fix it?” The friend said yes. And for twenty minutes, Ali talked. Not like the confident guy everyone knew, but like a human being — tired, overwhelmed, and afraid. His friend didn’t interrupt. He just listened. At the end, he said, > “You know what? I don’t care how ‘perfect’ you are. I love you for being real.” Ali didn’t cry often. But he cried then. --- The Truth About Hidden Fears Everyone has a hidden fear. Some fear rejection. Some fear loneliness. Some fear failure. Some, like Ali, fear not being enough. And the scariest thing about hidden fears isn’t that they exist — it’s that we keep them hidden for so long, they begin to define us. But the moment you speak them out loud… they start to lose power. Because fear thrives in silence — But it shrinks in the light of truth and connection. --- So If You’re Hiding a Fear Right Now… Let this be your reminder: You don’t have to carry it alone. You don’t have to wear a mask just to be loved. You don’t have to pretend to be okay every single day. Speak. Share. Be honest — even just with one person. Because there is strength in admitting fear. And healing doesn’t begin with pretending. It begins with saying: > “This is what I’m afraid of. But I’m ready to face it.” And that — is where courage lives.
By Hazrat Bilalabout a year ago in Fiction
The Neighbor’s Note
Chapter One: Rain and Silence Rain poured down like it had something to prove. Ava Winters curled on her couch in Apartment 3B, listening to the storm batter the windows. The power had been out for hours. Her tea was cold, her book unread. Flickering candles cast long shadows over her tiny living room. Outside, the wind howled through the city like a creature searching for something.
By Shakespeare Jrabout a year ago in Fiction
A Love Without Borders: Jordan and Pitiuruk's Remarkable Journey How far would you go for love?
A Love Without Borders: Jordan and Pitiuruk's Remarkable Journey How far would you go for love? For 26- year-old Jordan Hauenschild, an adventurous woman from the Gold Coast of Australia, the answer turned out to be more than 13,000 kilometers — all the way to the heart of the Amazon jungle. In a time when most modern relationships begin in the same city or at least the same country, Jordan’s story is a rare reminder that love, when it’s real, knows no boundaries. It all started in 2023 with a simple scroll through Instagram. Among the millions of accounts, one in particular caught Jordan’s eye — a profile belonging to Pitiuruk, a 24-year-old Indigenous Ecuadorian man living in the depths of the Amazon rainforest. His page was filled with glimpses of a life that was worlds away from her own — lush green landscapes, traditional attire, and a peaceful rhythm guided by nature, not city noise. Something about his photos and the way he spoke about his culture moved her. Without overthinking it, she sent him a message. To her surprise, he replied. That first conversation turned into many. Over the course of four months, their bond deepened through video chats and late-night messages. They spoke about their daily lives — Jordan in her fast-paced world of work and city living, and Pitiuruk in his tranquil, rural environment surrounded by nature. They shared stories, dreams, and laughter, learning about each other’s cultures, values, and hopes for the future. Despite the distance, a strong emotional connection formed. There was something magnetic and authentic about their conversations. What began as curiosity slowly bloomed into something more profound — a genuine affection and desire to meet in person. In March 2024, Jordan made a life-changing decision. She quit her job, packed her bags, and set off on a journey that would take her more than 35 hours across the globe — from Australia to the Amazon. It was a bold move, full of risk, but driven by faith in the bond they had built. Arriving in Ecuador, she was welcomed not only by Pitiuruk but also by his extended family and community. The days that followed were nothing short of magical. They took long canoe rides through winding rivers, kissed under jungle waterfalls, and embraced the beauty of each other’s world. Jordan adapted quickly to a slower pace of life — one that didn’t require a smartphone in hand or a Wi-Fi signal to feel connected. Perhaps the most touching part of her journey was how warmly she was accepted by Pitiuruk’s family. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, love served as a universal translator. She learned their customs, helped with daily chores, and immersed herself in a way of life that, though unfamiliar, felt surprisingly natural. As their story unfolded, Jordan began documenting parts of her journey on TikTok. Her videos — filled with sincerity, humor, and beautiful scenes of Amazonian life — quickly gained traction. Viewers around the world were captivated by their unlikely love story. Many were inspired by Jordan’s courage, while others admired the couple’s authenticity and the way they bridged such different worlds with kindness and openness. By June, their story had gone viral. Recognizing the incredible journey Jordan had undertaken and the story’s impact on others, Flight Centre, a major travel company, stepped in to offer her a return flight to Ecuador. It was a gesture that not only made headlines but also symbolized how deeply their story had resonated with people across cultures. Despite the obvious challenges — distance, cultural contrasts, and language differences — Jordan and Pitiuruk continue to prove that when two people are truly connected, love can find a way. Their relationship stands as a powerful example of what can happen when we allow our hearts to lead, even when the path is uncertain. In a world often focused on convenience, quick connections, and digital distractions, their story reminds us of something timeless: that real love sometimes requires taking great risks, making huge sacrifices, and being open to the unknown. Jordan and Pitiuruk didn’t just fall in love — they built a bridge between two vastly different worlds, and on that bridge, they found something real.
By Israr khanabout a year ago in Fiction
Do You Believe in Ghosts?
A dense fog covered the sleepy town of Raventhorne as if nature itself was hiding something it didn’t want seen. Nestled deep within the woods, this forgotten place bore secrets older than its cracked cobblestone streets. The locals rarely spoke after dark and locked their doors before the sun dipped behind the ancient pine trees. And for good reason.
By Lana Roseeabout a year ago in Fiction
