Short Stories

  The Day I Stopped Apologizing I used to say “sorry” like it was punctuation. Sorry for being late. Sorry for speaking up. Sorry for crying. Sorry for not crying. Sorry for needing space. Sorry for needing too much. It was reflexive, like breathing. I apologized for my existence, for my emotions, for the way my voice trembled when I tried to explain myself. I thought it made me kind. Graceful. Easy to love. But it didn’t. It made me invisible. The Beginning of the End It started with a coffee mug. A chipped ceramic mug with faded sunflowers. I’d left it on the kitchen counter after a long night of editing reports for work. My partner, Daniel, walked in the next morning, saw the mug, and sighed like I’d committed a felony. “You always leave things lying around,” he muttered, grabbing it with two fingers like it was contaminated. “I’m sorry,” I said, instantly. He didn’t respond. Just rinsed it and left it in the drying rack. That moment should’ve been forgettable. But something abo...

  Why Some People Aren’t Meant to Stay: Embracing Growth, Self-Respect, and Freedom in Relationships Sometimes, the hardest lesson in love is realizing that not everyone who walks into your life is meant to stay. We often hold on tightly gripping memories, replaying moments, and wondering where it all went wrong. But what if it didn’t go wrong at all? What if the people who leave are part of your becoming? I remember the day he left like it was yesterday. I had woken up early to make his favorite breakfast, hoping a simple gesture could hold together what was unraveling. He walked out the door, smiled politely, and said, “I need time.” Those words hit harder than any fight, any argument, any tear I had shed before. I sat there in silence, staring at the coffee I had made just for him, realizing that love sometimes isn’t enough. That day, I learned that holding onto someone who isn’t fully present only drains your heart. When people leave, it doesn’t always mean failure. It can m...

  🌙 When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words Written by Leslie Joubert Sometimes, silence says more than a thousand words ever could. It lingers in spaces where conversations once flowed. It resonates in the pauses, the avoided calls, and the quiet glances that carry more meaning than explanations ever will. Sophia and Marcus had been colleagues for years. They respected each other, collaborated closely, and shared ideas that sparked creativity in their department. But over time, Sophia noticed subtle shifts. Marcus’s responses grew shorter, his emails colder, and meetings felt strained. At first, she tried to talk — sending messages, asking questions, searching for clarity. But Marcus’s silence persisted. No excuses, no explanations — just the quiet space between them that was becoming impossible to ignore. One Friday afternoon, Sophia stayed late at her desk, staring out the window. She reflected on their partnership: the achievements they had celebrated, the challenges they...

  🌙 Healing After Loving the Wrong Person Written by Leslie Joubert Love is not always gentle. Sometimes, it arrives like a warm sunrise, and sometimes, it leaves like a storm you didn’t see coming. And then there are the times when love is real, but the timing is wrong, the paths are misaligned, or the hearts simply do not fit together. Healing after loving the wrong person is not a straight line. Some mornings feel like victory — you wake up and the memories no longer sting. Other nights, the quiet feels heavy, and you wonder if your heart will ever stop replaying old conversations, moments, and mistakes. But gradually, day by day, something subtle begins to shift. You start noticing the little signs of reclaiming yourself: The sunlight that pours through your window feels warmer than it did before. Laughter comes naturally, not forced for the sake of peace. Your routines and spaces start to reflect you , not what you think someone else expects of you. Heali...

  🌙 When You Outgrow the People You Once Loved Written by Leslie Joubert There comes a time when your soul whispers for something quieter — something softer, something that feels like peace instead of constant survival. And that’s when you start to notice it: the distance between who you were and who you’re becoming. You’ll see it in old conversations that no longer feel like home. In laughter that suddenly sounds forced. In rooms where your light feels too bright to dim anymore. Growth has a way of making comfort uncomfortable. You’ll start craving honesty, depth, and alignment — even if it costs you company. And sometimes, the bravest thing you’ll ever do is admit that certain connections are no longer meant to walk beside you. Take Emma and Daniel, for example. They had been inseparable since college. They shared dreams, late-night talks, and countless adventures. But over the years, subtle cracks began to show. Emma wanted honesty, reflection, and growth; Daniel want...