Young Adult

The Mirror's Reflection
Lena sat in the dusty attic, her fingers lightly tracing the edges of an old sketchpad. The room around her was still, the only sound being the occasional creak of the house settling. It had been months since she’d come here, since she’d hidden away from the world outside. In the silence, her thoughts roared louder than ever—recollections of failure, dreams that had slipped through her grasp, of who she was and who she no longer believed she could be.
By Mansoor Khanabout a year ago in Fiction
Guardians And Angels | Chapter Five | Part 19
One Some boys make every love song about them. Every single one of them, all night long, back-to-back. The Friday night before Halloween, after attending my first school dance in seventh grade with my best friend, I found out the hard way that those same boys make every sad song about them too.
By Christopher Dubbsabout a year ago in Fiction
The Extra Photo
It was supposed to be a normal weekend. My two closest friends, Arjun and Sameer, came over to my place after years. We hadn’t hung out together since college, and nostalgia hit hard. The evening was full of silly jokes, old stories, and the kind of laughter that makes your stomach ache.
By ETS_Storyabout a year ago in Fiction
Classic Doctor Who is Surprisingly Violent and Eerie
I just recently started watching the Classic Doctor Who. I was over the moon when I realized it was now free to watch on Tubi, and I immediately took advantage of starting the series. I have been enjoying it immensely since the first episode.
By Emy Quinnabout a year ago in Fiction
Richie. Content Warning.
Selfish pride never allows anyone to know where I'm going when my world begs for precious silence. My way of dealing with issues may be a little skewed and I often keep things bottled up, but in the end, it's a way that works for me.
By Lamar Wigginsabout a year ago in Fiction
The Dream Breaker. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
-POV: Irios “The first lie is that the pillars end. The second lie is that they never did.” — Dreamer’s Catechism Hunger. A hollow gnawing, sharp and insistent, blooming deep in my chest. At first, I think it is the stone—some fragment left lodged in me, a shard pressing against bone. But no, the ache twists and deepens, and I know it for what it is. Hunger.
By Morpheus of Stoneabout a year ago in Fiction
Europe’s Scorching Summer
Introduction: A Summer Like No Other Europe is experiencing one of the hottest summers in recent history. From Spain to Germany, and from France to Italy, the continent is battling relentless heatwaves that have disrupted normal life. Temperatures soaring above 40°C are no longer rare — they are becoming the new normal. This article explores how heatwaves are reshaping daily life across Europe, the challenges they bring, and the steps people are taking to adapt. The Heatwave Phenomenon Heatwaves occur when unusually high temperatures persist for days or even weeks. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying these events, making them more frequent and more dangerous. According to the European Environment Agency, the continent has seen a steady rise in both the duration and intensity of extreme heat since the 1990s. Public Health Under Pressure Hospitals across Europe are reporting an increase in heat-related illnesses. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and respiratory problems are common among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. Cities like Paris and Rome have opened cooling centers, while public health officials urge residents to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during peak hours. The Daily Struggles of Ordinary People For millions of Europeans, the heatwave is not just a weather report — it’s a daily struggle. Office workers find productivity dropping as air-conditioning systems fail to keep up. Farmers worry about their crops drying under the blazing sun, while families cancel outdoor plans and seek refuge in shaded parks or air-conditioned malls. In southern Spain, school schedules have been adjusted, with classes ending earlier to avoid the midday heat. Energy Systems Under Strain Another impact of the heatwave is the strain on Europe’s energy systems. With air conditioners running non-stop, electricity demand is reaching record highs. Some regions face power shortages, while utility companies scramble to balance supply and demand. Ironically, the same rivers that cool nuclear power plants are running dry, forcing some facilities in France and Germany to reduce operations. Economic Consequences Heatwaves also have an economic cost. Tourism, one of Europe’s most important industries, is feeling the pressure. While northern countries such as Norway and Sweden see a rise in visitors escaping southern heat, Mediterranean destinations are struggling with cancellations. Agriculture is also hit hard, as drought conditions reduce crop yields, pushing food prices higher across the continent. Environmental Toll The natural environment is suffering too. Drought conditions lead to wildfires in Greece, Italy, and Portugal, destroying forests and displacing communities. Rivers like the Rhine and the Po are shrinking, threatening biodiversity and disrupting shipping routes. These environmental changes highlight the urgent need for sustainable water management and climate resilience policies. How People Are Adapting Despite the challenges, Europeans are finding ways to adapt. Urban planners are redesigning cities with more green spaces to cool down concrete jungles. Families are investing in better insulation for their homes. Communities are coming together, checking on elderly neighbors and sharing resources. Governments are also introducing early-warning systems to alert citizens before extreme heat strikes. The Bigger Picture: A Wake-Up Call Experts argue that Europe’s heatwaves are not isolated events but part of a global climate crisis. The continent is warming at twice the global average, making it particularly vulnerable. This summer is a stark reminder that climate adaptation is no longer optional — it is a necessity. Conclusion: Living in a Hotter Future Europe’s scorching summer is more than an uncomfortable season; it is a glimpse into the future. As climate change accelerates, heatwaves will continue to reshape how people live, work, and interact with their environment. The challenge now is not only to survive the heat but also to build a more resilient society that can thrive in a warming world.Another impact of the heatwave is the strain on Europe’s energy systems. With air conditioners running non-stop, electricity demand is reaching record highs. Some regions face power shortages, while utility companies scramble to balance supply and demand.
By Muhammad Ibrahimabout a year ago in Fiction
The Room That Remembers
When I signed the lease for the small house on Maple Street, I thought I’d finally caught a stroke of luck. The rent was cheap, the neighborhood quiet, and the landlord seemed almost too eager to hand me the keys.
By ETS_Storyabout a year ago in Fiction
The Royal Roger Retreat
Carefully holding the sound equipment, Judie from the A groupies, attempted preserving the babbling brook popping sound bites and discovered the closest fishing pond, filled with crackling, snapping effects created the best natural features.
By Marc OBrienabout a year ago in Fiction
The Boy Who Changed Life
The Story Amir was not born with anything that the world calls fortune. His family lived in a single-room clay house at the edge of a forgotten village, a place where even maps seemed embarrassed to stretch their ink. The roof leaked in the rain, and the floor was nothing but dirt, but Amir had something rarer than wealth: an unshakable belief that life could change.
By Hikmatabout a year ago in Fiction
The Dream Breaker. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
— POV: Nara “The first sign of drift is forgetting thirst. The second, pain. The last, your name.” -Field Notes of the Shard-Bearer Deyrin Voss, recovered near the Ninth Pillar
By Morpheus of Stoneabout a year ago in Fiction
The Silent Hunger. Content Warning.
Devonne Kincaid had never known thirst like this. Water slid down his throat by the gallon, yet his mouth stayed dry, his tongue raw. Coffee, wine, juice—nothing quenched it. At night he lay awake, jaw aching, grinding against a hunger that felt older than he was. The doctor said dehydration. Work stress. Maybe insomnia. But Devonne knew the truth in his bones. This wasn’t stress. This was something feeding on him from the inside. --- The first crack showed on the subway. The carriage swayed, packed shoulder to shoulder. Devonne leaned against a pole, eyes half-closed, when the smell hit him. Metallic. Sharp. A boy across the car had a wrist wrapped in gauze. The bandage was slipping. A red thread gleamed where it bled through. Devonne’s heart kicked hard. His throat closed. His mouth watered so suddenly he nearly gagged. He couldn’t stop staring. The boy shifted under his gaze. Devonne bit the inside of his cheek, hard enough to taste his own blood, forcing himself back into his skin. When the train screeched to a stop, he bolted into the night air, lungs shuddering, hunger screaming. --- The dreams began after that. Dark alleys. Footsteps echoing. Shapes moving ahead of him. He reached for them with shaking hands, nails digging into phantom skin, the air thick with copper sweetness. He always woke with his pillow torn and his teeth aching as if he’d been gnawing stone. Food tasted like dust. Heartbeats became an unbearable noise. He stopped eating lunch with coworkers, stopped making eye contact, stopped riding the train. But silence only made the hunger louder. The hunger was not meant to be suppressed. --- One morning, Devonne woke with dirt packed beneath his nails. His tongue was coated in iron. His reflection in the mirror looked wrong—skin ghost-pale, pupils blown wide, teeth catching the light in ways they shouldn’t. On the news: "The body of a man was found drained of blood in an alley off Crescent Street. No wounds were visible on the victim." Devonne’s coffee mug slipped from his hand. It shattered across the tile. He looked down towards his shoes laid by the entrance door. Muddy, Thick, wet, black with rain. He couldn’t remember leaving his apartment nor coming back. --- Fear gripped him harder than hunger ever had. He kept his blinds shut. He stopped answering calls. He didn’t dare sleep. But hunger doesn’t care about fear. Hunger grows. --- It was the stairwell that broke him. He was dragging himself upstairs when his neighbor appeared—a woman, groceries in her arms, a polite smile on her face. Then she tripped. The bag split. Apples clattered, a wine bottle shattered, and her hand slid across broken glass. Blood welled instantly. Bright. Hot. Alive. A beautiful hue.
By E. hasanabout a year ago in Fiction