Short Story
Mirror: 11:11
The morning the timelines started bleeding, the clocks forgot their loyalties. My oven blinked 11:11, my phone swore it was 9:03, and the radio was half weather, half poetry reading, both insisting I bring an umbrella.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
Akashic Coffee
Victoria Mendoza pushed the door open to Akashic Coffee, the chime overhead a soft whisper against the hush of coastal morning. The air inside was steeped in espresso and wood smoke, the soundscape a mixture of lo-fi beats and soft laughter from other early risers. It was one of those San Luis Obispo mornings when the fog still hugged the mountains, reluctant to leave.
By Tony Martelloabout a year ago in Fiction
Spiritual Graffiti
“Leave it,” Javi said, leaning on the pressure washer. “It’s half art, half therapy.” “It’s a job,” I said, rolling my sleeves. The underpass wall screamed with thick black letters: NOT MINE NOT MINE NOT MINE. The city seal flapped on a tarp nearby like a scolding parent.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
Lady. Content Warning.
Ophelia stood on the precipice, her toes dangling off the edge, loose hair whipping about her face and obscuring the branding on her pretty little neck. She smiled into that black nothingness of the ocean beyond her, and halfheartedly wondered if there was a darkness buried deep that smiled back. Ophelia only saw herself reflected in that dark mass. She inched closer to the edge of the dock, her toes curled around the sea-slicked wood.
By Rachele Quarnaccioabout a year ago in Fiction
Look Up
The corner diner was always a little too bright for its age, the chrome stool legs polished by a thousand fidgety knees, the neon sign in the window humming like it had a secret. Sweet tea flowed from the spigot like a slow river, catching sun in the glass, and Cindy set down another sweating mason jar with a flick of her wrist.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warriorabout a year ago in Fiction
Jessica and the Giant Fish. AI-Generated.
Jessica had always been drawn to the sea. Ever since she was a child, she found peace in the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the glitter of sunlight dancing across the water. As an adult, she spent hours swimming, diving, and exploring the mysteries of the ocean. For her, the sea was not just water and waves—it was a living world, full of secrets and silent stories.
By Bilal Mohammadiabout a year ago in Fiction
The Girl Who Remembered Every Lifetime
The first time Amina opened her eyes, she was certain she had lived before. Not in the sense of déjà vu, that fleeting echo everyone experiences, but in a way that shook her to the core. She could name places she had never visited, describe the scent of flowers that did not grow in her country, and whisper languages no one had taught her.
By Saqib Ullahabout a year ago in Fiction
The Paper Face
“Wake, little one.” The voice seeped through the silence like water moving under stone. She flinched, lifting a hand to the back of her head. Pain throbbed where she had struck the iron rack of the bed, a pulse that made the air around her sway.
By Vito V. Valeabout a year ago in Fiction
Shining Through: The Best World Record of 2025
In a year that many expected to be like any other, 2025 surprised the world with something extraordinary — a global movement so powerful, it set a world record no one had ever imagined possible. Not for speed, strength, or technology — but for kindness. It all began in January, when a small school in Finland launched a project called "Kindness Chain". The goal was simple: every student had to perform one act of kindness and then encourage the person they helped to pass it on. The idea quickly spread across social media, catching fire faster than any viral challenge before it. Within weeks, thousands of people in dozens of countries were joining in — planting trees for strangers, helping the elderly with groceries, sending supportive letters to people they’d never met, and donating food and clothes in record amounts. The hashtag #PassItOn2025 trended globally, and for the first time in years, positive news was leading every headline. Then, something unexpected happened. In March, the Global Goodwill Council, a non-profit international watchdog for humanitarian efforts, began documenting the movement. They counted over 700 million confirmed acts of kindness by April — an all-time world record. But more than the numbers, what shocked everyone was how the movement had spread to places once divided by conflict, politics, or pain. In a small town in Syria, children from formerly opposing groups planted olive trees together. In Brazil, a youth group cleaned up entire neighborhoods, then taught digital skills to elderly locals. In India, a community pooled resources to build homes for displaced families. Across oceans and borders, kindness became the world’s most powerful common language. By June, schools, companies, hospitals, and even governments began organizing large-scale "positivity days." Businesses gave employees paid time to volunteer. Hospitals saw patient recovery improve when kindness programs were introduced. Some cities reported a measurable drop in crime rates, linking it to the growing culture of empathy and community care. Perhaps the most emotional moment came on World Kindness Day, November 13th. Coordinated across 193 countries, over 1 billion people participated in the largest synchronized human chain ever recorded — physically and digitally. People joined hands in real life or shared live selfies online with heartfelt messages of unity. From the snowy mountains of Canada to the deserts of Africa, the image of humanity, hand-in-hand, circled the Earth. The Guinness World Records confirmed it as the largest collective human event in history. News outlets dubbed it “The Year the World Remembered Its Heart.” The story of 2025 became more than a trend — it became a testimony to the strength of compassion. The United Nations honored the movement with a new global observance: The International Day of Kindness and Unity, to be celebrated every year on the third Saturday of November. The event would serve as a reminder that the greatest changes don’t always come from big inventions or political breakthroughs — sometimes, they start with small, selfless acts. And while the official record was noted, most people involved didn’t care about the numbers. What stayed with them were the connections they formed, the smiles they saw, and the healing they felt — both in others and in themselves. As the sun set on 2025, one truth remained clear: in a world often overwhelmed by noise and division, the quiet power of kindness had shone through, louder and brighter than anyone ever expected. It wasn’t just a record. It was a revolution — of hope, unity, and the simple belief that one good deed can truly change the world.
By Muhammad Saad about a year ago in Fiction
The Knock
The mover had just left, and the kettle had finished boiling. She was ready to enjoy a nice cup of tea, hoping the warmth would settle her nerves in this new, unfamiliar house. Her hands cradled the mug, seeking comfort, but just as she sat down, a sharp, unexpected tap echoed from the front door. A sigh of irritation escaped her lips; her tea would have to wait. She left it steaming on the kitchen bench, recalling—perhaps with a touch of sarcasm—how people had assured her that this neighbourhood was friendly.
By Sarah Xenosabout a year ago in Fiction
