Story Therapy

  Image by AI Guilt resurfaces when a swan dies — and the past refuses to stay buried. Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles Charles screamed before I even saw what he was pointing at. It wasn’t the startled cry of a kid who’d grazed his knee or dropped his snack. It was sharp, raw, the kind of sound that slices straight through the air and makes every adult freeze. I spun around so fast my breath caught. My eight‑year‑old son stood at the edge of the lake, his small arm stretched out, finger trembling as he pointed at something floating near the reeds. A swan. White. Still. Wrong. Michael reached him first, dropping to his knees. “Hey, mate… what happened?” But Charles didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on the swan, wide and glassy, as if he were seeing something the rest of us couldn’t. I hurried over, my heart thudding. “Charles, sweetheart, talk to me.” He didn’t look at me. He di...

  The Illusion of Effort: A Story of Expectations and Loss Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles I. The Glow Nina’s phone lit up with messages before she’d even finished her morning chai. “Girls, look what Aarav did today 😍 ” “Breakfast in bed again!” “Spa voucher from my man — I’m screaming.” The group chat — The Queens — was a constant stream of curated perfection. Filtered photos. Staged surprises. Exaggerated stories. Nina scrolled through them with a tightness in her chest she didn’t want to name. Her boyfriend, Joseph, was steady, gentle, and practical. But he wasn’t… this. That night, as she lay in bed, the glow of her phone reflecting in her eyes, she felt something shift inside her — small, sharp, and persistent. The next morning, she looked at Joseph differently. II. The Shift It began with a question. “Why don’t you ever surprise me?” Joseph blinked, confused. “Surp...

  What happens when love feels comforting… until it doesn’t? Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles I. The Evening Lights Vadodara looked almost theatrical that night — strings of fairy lights hanging across the courtyard, the scent of cardamom drifting from the buffet, and a soft breeze that made the women’s dupattas flutter like flags. Aanya wasn’t planning to stay long at her friend’s engagement party, but she lingered near the drinks counter, enjoying the music and the rare feeling of not rushing anywhere. That’s when she noticed him. Rishabh stood a few feet away, laughing with someone she vaguely recognised. He wasn’t loud or showy, but there was something about the way he listened — fully, attentively — that made him stand out. When their eyes met, he smiled. Not the kind of smile that demanded anything. Just a warm, easy acknowledgement. They ended up talking for nearly an hour. He a...