I received a call from Steve, who had been expressing interest in me for months, though I hadn’t been paying much attention. Despite going out with him on various occasions, it wasn’t until one particular moment that he proposed. I declined, stating, “No, I can’t date you.” In response, he expressed understanding if I needed time to get to know him better. However, he pointed out, “Saying you can’t date me means you’ve closed off all possibilities of falling in love with me, and that hurts.” I apologized and clarified, “I can ask for time, but the truth is, it…
Author: town gist
I recently ran into a high school mate at the market, and she tried to pay me a compliment by saying I looked older now, even though I was the youngest in our school squad. I laughed it off, but when I got home and took a good look in the mirror, I couldn’t ignore the changes. My eyes seemed sunken, my hands looked longer, and my once chubby cheeks had lost their plumpness. Even when I tried to put on my best face, I still appeared sad and tired. Glancing at my husband, lying in bed with a cloth…
Nathan’s life had veered into the realm of the mysterious. It all began subtly with small things out of place: a mug in the wrong spot, a missing book, and his cherished wristwatch playing hide-and-seek around the house. Initially, he thought it was just the result of his increasingly busy work schedule, perhaps a sign of forgetfulness. But when family heirlooms started disappearing, only to reappear days later in odd corners, the occasional thefts transformed from minor annoyances into a perplexing puzzle. His group of friends, always ready to solve a mystery or at least offer speculations, had their own…
The last time we argued, he said, “When we were dating and being affectionate, did you ever care if I’d showered or not? We used to be carefree and intimate anywhere to make me want to marry you. Now that we’re married, you’re complaining about me not bathing. You women are all the same. Right after marriage, you think you’ve got what you want, so you can do what you want.” What he said really hurt my feelings because that wasn’t the point. I didn’t plan or audition for this marriage, and it wasn’t about me doing everything to make…
When I first met them, they were a trio: Martin, Joe, and Laka. Martin was the one who reached out and initiated the conversation. Being new in town, they were on the lookout for companionship. I gladly accepted their offer of friendship, and over time, all three became close to me. Sharing a house, I often visited them on weekends to lend a hand. Their kindness was remarkable—they’d bring back gifts from their travels, offered financial assistance whenever I needed it, and even extended their generosity to my parents. Among them, Martin took the lead whenever I visited their home,…
“54 years after a mom vanished without a trace, workers made an astonishing discovery in her yard. It was a cold morning in Pennsylvania when construction workers discovered something that left them speechless outside of a Pittsburgh home. A random act discovered the 52-year-old family secret. Underneath the deck, they found something that resembled a human bone. When they started digging deeper, they uncovered a mystery that had been haunting the neighborhood for decades. Read on to see what happened with a desperate housewife who disappeared without a trace. What started as a regular reconstruction home site turned into an…
Jesse and David’s household was typically uneventful until the arrival of their newborn daughter. From that moment on, their family pet, Benji, completely disrupted their routine. Benji staunchly refused to let their daughter sleep alone, becoming agitated and incessantly barking when they were separated. When David finally grasped the situation, he was astounded. He promptly contacted the police, resulting in a swift response from numerous officers. The initial officer on the scene was incredulous. How could a dog have detected this? He commended David on having such an alert dog. Internally, David felt a pang of guilt; he should have…
The incident at Maplewood Elementary School reflected a stark denial of a fundamental right: a quality education for every child. A black student faced expulsion due to his skin color, a situation that drew his father, Mr. Jackson, to the school to address the grievance. As Mr. Jackson, clad in his uniform, stepped onto the school grounds, a palpable tension enveloped the air. The teachers and parents held their breath, unaware of the connection between Jamal, the lone black student, and the commanding figure poised to confront the principal over his son’s expulsion. Upon announcing his intent to discuss his…
“Consistently, he tackled his duties with unwavering dedication, adorned with a smile and a sense of pride. Despite the toil of his minimum-wage employment solely to sustain his family’s meals, it was his response to a woman’s issue at his workplace that would ripple through his life, affecting not only himself but also his children and the entire family. Working as a petrol attendant at a Shell filling station in a third-world country wasn’t the most glamorous role, but amidst the high unemployment rate, simply having a job was a source of contentment for Nicosico. Grateful for the opportunity, he…
At times in life, moments of overwhelming despair arise, leaving one unsure of the next steps. For Sandra, such a period struck at the end of autumn. Her mother fell seriously ill, compelling Sandra to remain tirelessly at her bedside, providing devoted care day and night. The treatments demanded a substantial sum, yet despite her father’s military service, the family struggled to cover the escalating medical costs alongside their basic needs. Stoically, they endured, united in the singular hope for Sandra’s mother to recover swiftly. While many insist that every situation offers a solution, one did present itself, but Sandra…