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...

  🌙 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...