There was a time in my life I wanted to be a star. I stood on stage, lights burning hot on my face. I performed with everything I had, I practiced endlessly, chased every opportunity, and poured my soul into each note, each word. I wanted to shine, to be seen, to matter in some way.
It never really worked out for me. The applause may have come, but it was never truly mine. My "dream" was just barely out of reach, no matter how hard I tried. I thought it was another mark of a failure.
But now... Now my voice rings with more confidence than ever before. Filling my home's every nook and cranny. Filling my morning lights heart and soul as it passes through his ears.
He looks at me with a smile and a sense of wonder and when I meet those eyes, I realize...
My voice was never meant for the stage.
It was never meant for the hollow applause and cheers. It was meant for him. My Lucifer. It was meant to fill his life full of love and care.
Feb 24
Feb 24, 2026 at 12:10 PM UTC
I wasn’t allowed to vape inside my Granny’s studio, even though my parents smoked cigarettes in there like it was harmless. I didn’t fight it. I’d hover just outside the doorway, trying to be close enough to be part of things but far enough to follow her rule. Every time I did, someone had something snide to say -- how vaping was worse, how I was ruining myself, the usual misinformation people used to spit out without thinking.
One day, Granny stormed up behind me.
“You’ve been vaping in here,” she yelled.
I hadn’t.
But she wasn’t listening.
She just kept yelling -- loud, sharp, convinced she was right.
Her words felt like they were crawling under my skin.
I wanted her to stop.
Just. Stop.
Something inside me broke open; not anger exactly, but something raw and cornered.
Before I understood what my own body was doing, she was on the ground.
Everyone exploded at once. Shouting. Accusing. Looking at me like they were right about me being the villain of every story they’d ever told about me.
I walked away. Not out of guilt, not out of defiance -- I just needed to breathe. To get my head back. To understand what the hell had just happened.
I shut myself in my room and stayed there. Silence. Heavy silence. I wasn't welcome anymore. I had to go.
My cat, half-feral and always slipping in and out, cried at my shut door. That’s when I heard it:
The crack of a broom.
My Granny’s voice, wild with anger.
My cat yowling in pain.
She was beating her.
Beating a little animal because she couldn’t reach me.
Something in me snapped into place, clean and sharp.
This time, I didn’t act out of panic.
This time, I chose.
I opened the door and stepped straight in between her and my cat.
“Your fight is with me,” I said. “Not my cat. If you need to hit someone, hit me instead.”
She stopped.
The broom lowered.
The screaming flew towards me.
And in that moment, everything shifted.
Not for granny, she didn’t change.
But for me.
Because I realized I wasn’t the same person who pushed her in the heat of fear and confusion.
I was the one who stood between her and a creature smaller than me.
The one who took the target off something defenseless and put it on myself.
The one who didn’t back away this time.
I didn’t become perfect that day. I didn’t become fearless.
But I became someone I could be proud of.
Someone who knew exactly who the fight was meant for;
and who would protect what mattered, even if it meant stepping into the blow myself.
I'm not proud of what I did.
I'm not happy with the way it all went down.
But, I am proud that I stood up for my daughter and protected her.
Dec 7, 2025
Dec 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM UTC
Fans of Stardew Valley will know that Robin and Demetrius have two kids, or at least Robin does. When talking to Maru, she will admit that Sebastian is only her half-brother, not that it wasn't physically obvious given the fact that Sebastian is as pale as a ghost while Maru is considerably more tan. Is it possible that it's because Sebastian spends most of his time in his room? It doesn't help, but I believe there's something deeper going on with the household that's more than meets the eye. If Maru herself admits Sebastian is her half-brother, then who is Sebastian's father? If you look at the list of townsfolk, there's not a whole lot of people who match Sebastian's complexion, Jas looks similar along with... Shane...
Obviously we can rule out Jas as a potential because of the fact she's approximately 5-10 years old and female.
Now, Shane on the other hand, he's approximately in his 40s and bears a striking resemblance to Sebastian. This is confirmed that Shane is considered an elder bachelor after finding a secret note including him in the list with Elliott and Harvey. So, if this is true, what happened to Robin and Shane's relationship? How did he become one of the elder bachelors?
Let's go back 20 some odd years. We see Robin and Shane clinking mugs together, celebrating, happy, a wonderful future about to unfold in front of them. Robin becomes pregnant and they panic, their living situations needing a major change if they were to have a child together. Robin's business wasn't doing as well as she hoped given the fact nobody is asking for construction work so Shane scrambles, asking around town for employment. With no one hiring, Shane and Robin fall on a stressful time as they do their best to provide for the kid on the way.
Enter JojaMart. They move into town, and send out fliers that they need employees to stock their shelves, it isn't much, but it's enough to catch Shane's attention as he applies for a "temporary" solution. That's when the lovely couple hit the bump that changed everything.
At the beginning of his career, Shane realized JojaMart wasn't a job where he could grow and change. As the pressure he's under took stock, it begins to quickly lead him to have a drink after work, at first.
Over time, Shane became miserable as he worked several hours and days at a time. One drink after work becomes two as Shane slips into alcoholism. Robin is left in their new home alone and pregnant, waiting.
As Shane continues down his self-destructive path, Robin finds him in the bar at a late hour of the night and they fight about it.
Soon, Demetrius moves into town, studying the strange phenomenon of the green rain that happens occasionally in Stardew Valley.
As he and Robin get to know each other, she falls in love with him while Shane works and drinks his days away.
Eventually, Robin breaks the news to Shane that they should see other people, sending Shane even further into his spiral. This could explain his hardened demeanor towards Farmer and his consistency on standing alone in Stardrop Saloon.
As Robin moves on, Shane is left, alone and broken as everything he loves and cares about becomes another man's life.
I don't believe Robin even tells Sebastian who his real father is or the sacrifices he made to provide for his kid, they pass by each other occasionally and sometimes Shane will see his son shop at his place of work. Shane wants to tell him, but is sworn to secrecy under Robin's wishes...
As far as Sebastian knows, his father was never in the picture and he will probably never find out the truth...
Nov 8, 2025
Nov 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM UTC
Do moms also suffer separation anxiety or is it just me?
We’re coming up onto two months after my morning star was born and I read that babies have separation anxiety during the first few months of life and don’t realize they are their own person until 6 months.
Babies will tend to want to sleep with their moms and be close to them as much as possible, from what I’ve seen so far, this is true.
However, I noticed the same effect in me as well. When Lucifer is in his bassinet, sleeping or just wiggling around during his active times, I can't seem to focus on my chores, games, or whatever hobby I may be attempting while he's in a calm state. I find myself consistently checking on him or trying to figure out a way I can involve him somehow in these activities. I've tried to sleep without him in my arms a few times and find myself unable to settle down, mentally begging him to need me.
I'm not sure if it's the fact I'm a new mom or the fact that I just simply have my own fear about what kind of mom I am to my darling boy, but either way I believe it's a form of separation anxiety much like the baby experiences for the first few months, I mean think about the similarities and the things moms and babies have in common right off of the bat.
Both you and baby have been inseparable for 9 whole months.
You felt baby grow inside of you and felt the smallest kicks along with the big ones.
When you were hungry, baby was as you rode along with pickles and ice cream, providing baby with the food they want but can't eat quite yet.
You've had a literal living being with you when you went to the store, doctor, bed and everything else in between.
Is it not natural to also have separation anxiety, much like your baby?
Is it natural to want to sleep with him every night but also not at the same time because you want to snuggle your partner as well?
Is it natural to consistently check on your baby even though he's fine, you just checked a couple of minutes ago, but you just have to check again just to make sure?
Is it natural to wrap your whole existence around one little person but at the same time still crave your independence and space?
I don't know the answers to these questions, I don't even know if this feeling inside me is individual or common.
What I do know is my desire to know that my light is safe.
I'm also actively making it harder for both of us when we do have to eventually separate from each other and I don't know how to stop it, nor do I truly want to.
Nov 1, 2025
Nov 1, 2025 at 10:48 PM UTC
Particles collide in the sky,
gathering, swelling, until the mass grows too heavy
to cling to the clouds it came from.
Drawn by gravity, called by fate, it drifts towards Mother Earth
As it falls through the atmosphere, Mother Earth welcomes it with a warm embrace.
Clouds form in its wake
Below, a lone woman uncertain of herself and her destiny lifts her head, sending her daily prayers of making a family, breaking cycles, and having a home full of love.
The heavens answer.
The skies open.
Rain falls.
A star softly drifts towards her and into her arms
She holds the star gently in her arms as the universe whispers of new beginnings
Cycles WILL break.
She WILL heal.
She WILL grow a home full of love and care.
She WILL become all she longed for...
And more.
Sep 6, 2025
Sep 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM UTC
Beat on a wall long enough and your fingers become ******
So what do you do in this situation?
I ran, I ran to somewhere that appeared nice but was fueled with only greed
I ran into a few of those places
What do you do then??
They tell me to keep pushing, to keep going
So I did, but instead of bloodying my knuckles more in hopes to break a concrete wall, maybe there's another way.
Surely, if I keep going, I'll find a place to plant my roots
They can't all be failures, right???
Right???
Aug 3, 2025
Aug 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM UTC
Struggling to hold a job down?
Everywhere you turn, the same cold line-
“We’re going a different direction.”
“Clearly it’s your fault. You’re not doing it right.
Keep pushing those resumes. Practice your interviews…”
Looking for alternatives - experience, maybe some money?
“Just get a job. Quit being so lazy.”
Hit financial walls while scraping together a life for your baby?
“Clearly, you’re not fit to be a parent.
Simply give your child away.”
You say you trudged through dirt, sweat, and tears...
But help was always a phone call away.
While I wait eight hours on hold just to hear:
“The office hours have closed. Please try your call again later”
“I’ve struggled. I’ve gone through hell and back.
I threw prayers that filled empty air…”
The list goes on.
But when I stumble and fall, all I hear is:
“Get up.”
“You’re just lazy.”
“Give your child away. You can’t care for him.”
Keep throwing your stones from your "cushy" lives.
I’ll show you.
You've seen me do it before
I’ll take your stones and build a fortress-
One forged from “can’t”, “lazy”, and “you’ll never make it.”
Add wood to my fire. Add stones to my palace.
Every doubt you toss becomes part of my legacy.
Because in this permanent rat race,
I won’t surrender.
I’ll rise above
And he’s staying with us
We'll make it, we simply have to
A child needs his family and that's just what I'll do
With- or without you
Jul 24, 2025
Jul 24, 2025 at 10:02 AM UTC
When I first heard about D&D, I think I was around some friends. I don’t remember giving it much thought at the time--whether someone showed it to me or I stumbled across it on my own is a little fuzzy now.
But that’s not the important part, is it?
What I do remember is a video series by a YouTube creator named JoCat. The series? A Crap Guide to D&D.
It was funny, chaotic, and unexpectedly insightful. The way each class was broken down with such ridiculous energy sparked something in me. I found myself rewatching those videos over and over again, absorbing the quirks and archetypes of each class, and eventually they helped me make a decision on my very first character. Maybe not the most traditional way to get into D&D, but then again, no two journeys are ever the same.
Someone who had been encouraging me to try new hobbies mentioned there were D&D groups on social media, and I should join a game. So, I did.
I was welcomed with open arms. One of the players in my group even hand-painted a miniature for me and gave me my very first set of dice.
It didn’t feel like I was stepping into something new--it felt like I was returning to something I had known in another life. Like I wasn’t a stranger, but an old friend, visiting after a long time away.
The game was short-lived, mostly due to scheduling conflicts (a classic D&D struggle), but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Not just the game itself, but the people I shared it with.
Jul 19, 2025
Jul 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM UTC
Bells ring through the air as the sunlight softly kisses an ornate building. Inside, crowds of family, friends, and everyone in between fill the hall, their hushed voices weaving into a warm, expectant murmur.
In separate dressing rooms, two people take a deep breath in unison, the weight of the moment pressing gently against their ribs. One smooths the front of a pressed jacket, fingertips tracing the cool fabric, willing trembling hands to be still. The other adjusts a delicate veil, feeling the soft lace brush their cheek, heart thudding in the quiet.
The bells chime once more, echoing through the building. After this moment, everything will change.
The figure in their suit steps into place as a march begins to play. A moment later, the figure in the veil begins their slow walk, every step matching the measured notes. Everything disappears as they lock eyes, the nerves suddenly fleeing as the whole world melts away.
The ceremony takes place, sealed with a kiss. Happiness fills the room, mingling with the clink of glasses and the low hum of celebration, a soft buzz of positivity wrapping everyone in a warm embrace.
...
Years later, the pitterpatter of young feet roam a well-lived home, mingling with the rich scent of gumbo simmering on the stove. Two people dance around each other in a choreographed display of cooking and cleaning. One touches softly on the other’s swollen belly, a reminder of another pair of tiny feet soon to join their world. A long-awaited, gentle brush on the lips seals the warmth they still share, quiet but steady.
From the corner, a soft giggle breaks the rhythm. The warmth of happiness lingers still, though softened by the quiet weariness settled between the couple.
...
Ten years ago, this lovely couple became a family. Tonight, they wish to take the family out of the house to celebrate -- something different from the routine of dishes, homework, and quiet sighs. The car hums with the noise of restless children, and the couple exchanges a glance, a flicker of tiredness hidden behind forced smiles.
The night is full of hope and nostalgia, but beneath the laughter, the quiet spaces between words stretch longer than before.
The restaurant buzzes with the chatter of other diners, the clinking of glasses, and the soft hum of background music. The couple sits across from each other, their hands briefly touching before retreating, as if unsure of each other’s presence.
Midway through, a phone buzzes sharply against the table. An important work call that can’t be ignored. The owner excuses themselves, leaving the other to care for the hungry children.
Soon after, the kids need escorting to the bathroom, the parent softly gliding through the restaurant, kids in tow. Upon returning, they offer their partner a warm smile that doesn’t quite reach their eyes.
Conversations feels fragmented, slipping through cracks neither wants to face. Words that once flowed freely now stumble and falter. They hold on to quiet worries and feelings of loss until the evening ends.
The kids are put to bed. The couple sits quietly on the couch together, attempting connection on such an important night. Instead, voices begin to rise as words long unsaid pass back and forth.
...
A suitcase rests half-full on the worn quilt, each folded shirt laid down with careful detachment. One person sits on the edge of the bed, hands clasped loosely in their lap. They don’t look up when the zipper closes, but a tear slowly slips down, warm against their skin. No words are spoken as the suitcase is lifted. The door shuts, as both of them exhale in unison, defeated sighs behind the barrier.
Meanwhile, from the stairs, small fingers curl around the banister. The voices are soft, but the words don’t make sense:
"Time apart…better for everyone…it’s not your fault."
The phrases roll around in their little head, looking for any shape that feels solid. A door clicks, and a sad sigh drifts through the house that used to feel warm.
In another room, photos are scattered across the bed as a teenager lifts one, studying the smiling faces frozen in time. They’d heard this happened to other families but never thought it would happen to theirs. Never saw the signs until now, when everything has come apart. With their whole world crashing down upon their shoulders and a slow, aching breath, they tear the picture in half.
Jul 7, 2025
Jul 7, 2025 at 12:07 AM UTC
Footsteps echoed through a long hall of polished pearl and wood, papers scattering across the floor. A tall, handsome man with red skin and black hair burst through large wooden double doors, out of breath. A measured tapping of a pen could be heard on the desk in front of him as he panted.
“You’re late…” the voice boomed. “Like always…”
He held up his finger as he composed himself and straightened his suit.
“That doesn’t matter. Where are they?” His black eyes met a large figure cloaked in white.
The white figure raised her eyebrow and turned a page, her voice measured and calm.
“Well, they certainly aren’t here,” she stated. “Most of them go into limbo nowadays.”
“Don’t play games with me. My numbers are down, and jobs are going unfilled in my realm!” The red figure clenched his fist as heat waves rose from his shoulders.
“Well, that’s exactly why I called this meeting.” She flipped a page from the book in front of her. “It seems we have to intervene again…”
“Again?” The red figure rolled his eyes. “Because last time worked so well.”
She looked up from her book. “Last time, I was a lot more like you…” She sighed. “Nonetheless, you know the contract—”
“I know the contract. I wrote half of it!” he interrupted.
Her eyes glowed like the sun for a brief moment before she continued.
“And as you know, if we both don’t get our numbers up, we’ll be in for a performance review.” Her calm demeanor showed a hint of frustration.
The red figure let a smile slip slightly across his lips. “And what are they threatening this time? I swear they think they’re better than us, despite us all being gods.”
“Reassignment.” She paused as the red figure scoffed.
“They wouldn’t do that again…”
“Oh, but they did. And the punishment was light, comparatively. This time they plan on wiping our memories and making us live a few lives in the mortal plane. Now, I don’t know about you, but the last time I was there, they hung me up on a cross.”
The red figure’s defensive demeanor shifted into worry for a moment before he gathered himself.
“What do you suppose we do?”
“Well, I know how much you like games, so I have a friendly competition in mind—something to motivate us besides the whole ‘forced to the mortal plane’ gimmick.”
“I’m listening…” He cocked his head in curiosity.
“We start orphanages. You’ll have your own, and I will too. We’ll influence the children to live the lives we desire, so our numbers go back up.”
“Why orphanages? Why not influence the ones who are already grown or close to crossing planes?”
“Many mortal adults don’t listen to anything other than their own ego, stuffing it to the brim with self-satisfaction. However, the children are still willing to take in outside information and follow examples. Probably why we are here in the first place…”
The red figure raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a slow smile.
“So… we’re recruiting children to settle a cosmic performance review?” He let out a low, brief chuckle. “I can’t decide if that’s brilliant or pathetic.”
The white figure shrugged. “Perhaps brilliant, perhaps pathetic, perhaps both. Do you have any better ideas?”
He tapped his chin with a long, black nail. “I suppose not. And what do I get if I win your little competition? What’s in it for you?”
“How about if one wins, they get to ask the other any favor their heart desires?”
“Any favor?” The red figure raised his eyebrow as multiple fantasies popped into his head of what he’d ask his business partner—and rival.
Jun 28, 2025
Jun 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM UTC