You do not need to make money from writing or even be particularly talented. — I am part of a local writer’s group where the premise is that we meet up, introduce ourselves, and write in silence for a couple of hours. It’s an open gathering, leading to a diverse crowd of people each time we meet. …

The will to change can clash with reality. — Standing naked on a rough, rocky precipice, a broken man offers promises to the wind. This time, he says, things will be different. Life will begin anew. Yes, from this point onwards, I shall be the man I always wanted to be. I shall not care for the looks of…

"When I have TikTok on my phone I feel lazy, so much more tired than usual, and unmotivated to do anything. I really want to stop but I have no way to do it." — The scariest of things are those we do not see coming, which is as true for monsters in horror movies as it is for addiction. While monsters hide under the bed, TikTok disguises itself as a harmless medium for relaxation and enjoyment — Are you bored? Tired after a long…

For you who have lost everything, come, gather around these gentle flames, and allow your soul to be rekindled. — Bern stands by the bonfire-to-be, hoisting massive branches of dry wood onto a colossal pile. He stumbles through the process, persevering despite fresh blisters forming on his hands and immense fatigue pestering his mind. Surrounding him are his comrades of the fire brigade, breathing heavily as they push man-sized boulders…

Shera is forced to flee into a world of his own creation. — Shera lay outside in the snow, wearing nothing but his father’s old shirt. Its thin fabric obstructs the cold as well as a shield of paper blocks a sword, serving merely as a pretense of defense. Thus, the chill breeze has free reigns as it wages war on the poor…

It’s just a bunch of snakes said their latest snack — My bare feet grind against the rough cavern floor as I run along the dimly-lit corridor. It hurts like hell, but whatever it was back there is worse than bloodied fucking feet. I throw a furtive glance behind my shoulder, and sure enough. There is movement in the distance. Slithering…

Smash the Jar, and from the Ashes, a Phoenix Will Rise. — If you seek to reinvent yourself, you must first uncover the truth — the truth of the taint which plagues your weary mind. It is hard, I know. …

Two brothers, together till the end. — He loved him with all his heart, and maybe that’s why he never told the truth, afraid of losing the one person for whom he truly cared. But as with all secrets, especially the dark ones, one can only hope to preserve secrecy for so long. As onlookers, we can…