I stare into the mirror. I see myself—those worried eyes I know so well. “What do you fear?” I ask. “I’m afraid to take this step,” she replies. “Don’t. I’ll be with you holding your hand.”
She doesn’t trust me but begins to climb. Step by slow step. I watch her go up beyond my reach. My legs tremble. My heart pounds in my ears. She reaches the highest highs, I can barely see her.
“I’m scared,” she screams as she looks down. “How will I get down?” “Jump,” I encourage her. “Impossible! I will die!” “You won’t. I will catch you,” I assure.
She hesitates. “I can’t! I’m terrified!” she cries. “Just trust me,” I whisper. “If you fall, I’ll fall… with you.”
Her quivering feet slide to the edge, I catch my breath, She plunges into the unknown. First, like a rock tossed in the wind, Then she unfolds her arms— Delicate wings, unsure they will hold her, Yet she spreads them wide in growing confidence, As feathers grow from her skin.
I hint a smile and behold her glide, A bird soaring on a gale. I extend my arms into the air. “What if I can’t do this?” I doubt myself. Terror embraces me from behind. “If you fail, I fail too,” Her mutter echoes in my heart.
She lands within me, I ripple like a drop cascading into a lake, Peacefully blending into placid waters.
Was it her or me? Who truly made it?
I stare into the mirror. I see myself—those worried eyes I know so well. “What do you fear?” she asks. “I’m scared to take this step.” “Don’t. I’ll be with you holding your hand,” she replies.
I climb with trembling legs. She will catch me, she’ll find a way— As I once did. I’ll find my wings… Just as she once found hers.
NOTE: I wanted to share an update on the latest chapter! In this excerpt, things take a dark turn as a raven descends, transforming into something far more sinister. Who—or what—is the woman emerging from the darkness? As I’ve mentioned before, the story is full of secrets, and this is yet another one for Nayah to uncover. Will she? Stay tuned for more as the story unfolds. I’ll share more soon! For now, I’d love to hear what you think.
The evening cast a somber veil over the landscape. The final, waning rays of the sun painted the sky in bruised hues of purple and gray. Nayah’s house stood isolated, surrounded by a forest of lifeless trees. Silence hung heavily in the air.
Then, the stillness was broken.
A dark shape descended from the obscured sky, a raven slicing through the dimming light with sharp precision. Its black wings beat the air with unnatural force, as though fueled by a dark essence, pulsing from hellfire itself. As it dropped rapidly, its form began to shift grotesquely, expanding not just in appearance but in actual size. It landed at the edge of the porch steps, a faint thud echoing across the silent ground.
The bird’s form contorted and stretched. Feathers dissolved into a swirling vortex of darkness. The murky mass writhed and grew, the silhouette of the infernal bird stretching taller and more distinct. Its wings spread wide, morphed elongating into human arms as the shadows reshaped into the body of a woman.
The transformation was monstrous and mesmerizing, unfolding with chilling inevitability. The figure solidified. Black and gray hair unfurled from the now human-like head. Yet, her movements were fluid and deliberate, exuding an unnatural elegance and confidence, as though she commanded the very darkness around her.
Thank you for following along with Nayah’s story here.
After much thought, I’ve decided to delete chapter 4 and onward, and I won’t be posting the remaining chapters here. Instead, I plan to complete it as a novel. What began as a short story has grown into something much more extensive, and I’m both thrilled (and also terrified!) to turn Nayah’s journey into a full-length book—my first novel.
Nayah will uncover deep family secrets, including a cursed legacy, and unravel terrifying mysteries within the house she unexpectedly inherited. Her journey will be unforgettable, and I can’t wait to share her adventure with you—when the time is right.
In the meantime, I’m slowing down on blogging to focus on completing this project (and likely giving it a new title). That said, I might drop a poem or a funny story if I need a break from Nayah. 🙂
Thank you so much for your support—it truly means the world to me! Stay tuned for updates!
I know why you left me, Mom. I didn’t understand it then. How could I? I was so young, a fragile leaf tossed in a hurricane.
I still remember you standing in that dim hallway, determined to leave. I heard the hollow echo as you opened the door, but before it slammed shut, the Beast crept in, filling the emptiness with shadows.
That night, sleep eluded me. I imagined you soaring through the sky, chasing your freedom like a ravenous bird after its prey. Trapped in the darkness, I cried, motionless, a girl clenching her fists. The Beast watched me; its big, fiery eyes piercing the night. I was terrified. But nobody was there to witness my horror.
For years, I begged you to come back, but you never did; and I never tamed the Beast. It lingered, a constant reminder of the void you left behind.
Three decades have passed, and the Beast still remains. I’ve grown used to its presence, accepting that I can’t fight it. I’ve built walls around myself, so tall that only God in Heaven can see the true reflection of me.
But one day, someone will come, and the Beast will be gone. My heart knows it, awaiting the day of liberation.
I’m no longer angry at you. I’ve come to understand your struggle, though I never heard you say plainly, “I love you.” Maybe you never did. You must have had your reasons.
But I can’t carry your pain for you anymore. It crushes me. I need to let it go.
Nevertheless, I love you. I always have. My heart’s been beating with so much love that I can’t feel otherwise. I’m sorry I couldn’t make you happy, but it’s time for me to find my own peace.
Have you ever come across the saying, “Pretty girls have it easier in life”?
Pretty girls seem to breeze through life, dodging traffic tickets, catching the eyes of admirers, and effortlessly securing drinks at bars. But what about the flip side? The not-so-pretty girls face a different reality. They become targets for bullies, often finding themselves disliked or disregarded. Their situation worsens if they wear glasses, opt for no makeup, or dress in unstylish clothes. Some of them shrink into themselves in the presence of pretty girls, feeling intimidated and staying quiet, hoping to blend into the background, unnoticed.
However, there’s another stereotype lurking in the shadows: the notion that pretty girls lack brains. With this stereotype, pretty girls are unfairly deemed as shallow or unintelligent. If they have blonde hair, the stereotype exacerbates, branding them as brain-dead. At work, pretty girls find themselves constantly scrutinized, as if everyone expects them to slip up. The tiniest flaw is magnified, seized upon as an opportunity to label them.
Yet, if you want a date then ask “that pretty girl.” In this scenario, going out with an attractive girl scores big. Also, Instagram favors pretty girls over intellectuals; girls in bikinis (or nude) tend to have way more followers than accomplished female scientists.
Therefore, which girl has more opportunities? Who has a better chance to meet Mr. Right? Who has it easier?
As I see it, the average person has the sweet spot. A girl must not be too pretty or too ugly because being very pretty intimidates while being too ugly repels. If you fall on either side of these extremes, you are likely – screwed!
Similarly, who has it better in school settings: the genius or the struggling student? Exceptionally smart kids and kids who struggle don’t blend in with others, and both are ideal targets for bullies because they are either too smart or not smart enough to fit in. Indeed, no matter where you are, how you look, or what industry or environment you find yourself in… the average person will fit in best because they do not “stick out.” If you are better than others in any category, you are likely discriminated against because of your exceptional abilities. This hatred is motivated by jealousy and fear. If you, however, fall behind others, then you are considered inept, unsuitable, and incompatible.
To thrive in today’s society, one cannot stand out in any category. If one falls on either side of the spectrum, whatever it is (smart or not, rich or poor, talented or not, hardworking or lazy, etc.), then he or she will face injustice.
Finally, would you rather be fit or fat? Who has it easier in life? Boy, I can tell you that I have seen it all! Ultimately, it boils down to feeling comfortable in your own skin, whether that means being fit or not. However, as a fitness advocate, I should encourage people to get fit. Stay on the fitter side but without falling into the extreme end of fitness, and here is why. The fitter I get, the fewer people talk to me in a gym. Fitter = less approachable. Perhaps, intimidation factors in? It sure can be difficult to make friends in a gym. Talking may be mistakenly perceived as “hitting” on others. It’s a fine line to walk, especially for single individuals who actually want to meet someone. On the other hand, having fewer acquaintances in a gym means less socializing and, therefore, less distraction and more time to work out. Bottomline: if you choose to get fit, or have a specific objective in mind, then surround yourself with people who support you and your goals.
So, the question lingers: who do you think has it easier in life? Pretty or ugly, or fit or fat?
Wolverine Lily 