To pay my mother’s debt, I was forced to marry an elderly woman, the owner of the hotel. I never imagined my life would spiral this way. I was just 20—bright, full of dreams, with a scholarship in journalism and a part-time gig at the front desk of the Belleview Grand Hotel. That was all I needed to keep me and my mother afloat after my father’s passing. But life doesn’t wait for you to catch your breath. When the calls started, I thought they were a mistake. “Your mother owes $87,000 in defaulted loans.” I laughed at first. My…
Author: town gist
In a quiet, tight-knit community nestled deep in the southern countryside, the arrival of a new priest stirred cautious curiosity. The locals were deeply religious—loyal to their parish, rooted in tradition, and hesitant about change. So when a young, charismatic 35-year-old American named Father George arrived to replace their beloved elder priest of several decades, whispers filled the pews. At first, they doubted him. He was young. He was different. He had studied in Rome, spoke with energy, and preached in ways they weren’t used to. But slowly, Father George won their hearts. He visited the sick. He comforted the…
The countryside was fading into evening, soft shades of gray and blue sweeping across the sky. A breeze whispered through tall grass and wildflowers, rustling the trees that lined the edge of a quiet, forgotten field. The kind of silence that only rural life could hold—unbothered, steady, and slow. At the front gate of her small garden, 74-year-old Marlene stood with a dented metal watering can in hand. Her back ached from a long day of weeding, but her eyes—sharp as ever—narrowed at something odd across the field. Down a narrow dirt trail, near the bend of a grove, an…
Pregnancy with twins is often seen as a double blessing, bringing both double joy and double responsibility. But it also comes with increased risks and challenges. So when a woman is expecting twins, she must take special care of her health. She needs more rest, more support, and more folic acid to help prevent birth defects. Now imagine not just two—but seventeen. That’s where today’s miracle begins. Anushka was a hardworking woman who worked as a pizza chef in a restaurant. She was known for her delicious pizzas and her warm smile. One day, while serving a customer, the man…
Clare had always known motherhood would change her. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened in that hospital room. She was 34 when she gave birth to twin girls. Her husband, Jason, stood beside her, gripping her hand through every contraction. Their nursery had already been painted a soft pastel green. Clare had carefully chosen matching teddy bears, tiny monogrammed onesies, and delicate white booties she’d imagined their daughters wearing on the way home. But when the first baby arrived, the room fell silent. When the second came, the silence turned sharp. Two beautiful Black baby girls—soft brown…
Victor Langston didn’t believe in luck. He believed in contracts, deadlines, and consequences. At 57, he had built his fortune from the ground up one property, one investment, one eviction at a time. His world was spreadsheets and signatures, not sympathy. So when his property manager handed him a file labeled Unit 3B—3 Months Delinquent, Victor didn’t hesitate. He slipped the eviction notice into his coat, drove across town in his sleek black Mercedes, and pulled into the cracked driveway of a worn-down townhouse. The plan was simple: knock, serve the notice, walk away. He wasn’t expecting the door to…
Karen Sanders never imagined her retirement would begin like this, standing in her hallway, staring at a little girl she had never met before. The child stood barefoot, silent, her wide eyes filled with something Karen couldn’t explain. It had only been two weeks since Karen visited the local orphan outreach center. She hadn’t planned on adopting a child. She just wanted to donate some books and maybe volunteer for story hour. But the moment she walked into that room, she noticed a small girl standing alone near a window. Her shirt was filthy brown, her jeans too big for…
For the past two weeks, I’ve been sharing a room with my mom. We sleep in the same bed, side by side. My only focus right now is making sure she’s okay and doesn’t try to harm herself. She barely gets any real sleep. Sometimes she closes her eyes and lies still, pretending to sleep, but I can tell it’s not real. I know the difference.When she’s truly asleep, she snores softly. But when she’s just pretending, the snoring stops, and instead she tosses and turns all night until the sun comes up. On some nights, she quietly slips out…
Frank Jerome was the priest in charge of Saint Thomas Parish. He always tried to do his job properly, guiding the church and making sure everything was running smoothly. He wanted things to be done honestly and in the right way. But one day, something started to feel wrong. Money from the church offerings began to disappear without explanation. Frank knew he had to find out who was behind it, but what he ended up discovering was far more shocking than he ever expected.Frank wasn’t the kind of priest people felt close to. Since the day he arrived at Saint…
The ballroom shimmered with golden light as guests circled the couple on the dance floor. David, standing tall in a crisp cream suit, looked down with deep admiration at his bride. Amala sat gracefully in her wheelchair, her satin white gown flowing like a waterfall over the wheels. A delicate crystal tiara nestled just beneath her veil. Her smile could melt marble. To many, they looked like a contradiction. To David, they were perfect. He was 33—a white tech entrepreneur known for building sleek startups and billion-dollar ideas. She was 31—a renowned disability rights advocate, a speaker who could silence…