Story Therapy

A chance encounter with a little boy and the swans in the picturesque lake changes everything. Can Leena balance her professional aspirations with her desire for a family as she navigates the complexities of her life? Story By: S A Spencer Photo by Drazen Nesic, pixnio.com “That boy is weeping.” Michael whispers to me as we walk around the edge of the Woodcroft Lake.          “We need to pick up the pace,” I say, urging him to keep up. “We have to run a kilometre in less than seven minutes if we want to be ready for the City to Surf marathon.”          As we walk, he paces beside me, his eyes fixed on that boy. It feels like yesterday when we bought our brand new house in this part of Sydney, and now it’s almost eight years. Our love for this lake and the lush greenery that surrounds it is unending, and we can’t imagine ever tiring of their beauty.          We pace and walk through the pine trees just befo...

The fabricated case that led to his life imprisonment could only be overturned by the power of his positive thoughts. Story: S A Spencer Photo by  Wil Stewart   As the day began, there was an undeniable sense of excitement in the air. Tiffany slipped into her beautiful dress and gazed at herself in the full-length dresser mirror. Her heart raced as she thought about finally being reunited with her sweetheart after four years of separation. A separation neither she nor Jerry planned. Her heart jumped inside her ribs. How would Jerry be after four years of unfair imprisonment in a prison of Pacific Island nation Sambora? Should she look happy or dejected? This dress was Jerry’s favourite. Tiffany hoped that the memories of their love would remain intact in Jerry’s mind, despite the years of torture he endured. “Where are we going Mum?” Ava asked when Tiffany pulled out a matching dress from the robe for her four and half year-old daughter. This morning, only a woman from...

As I sat stranded at the crack of dawn with a flat tyre, I couldn’t help but ponder the snowball effect of one issue, leading to several more. Story: S A Spencer Photo by  Robina Weermeijer Only one problem. There is a chance that my car’s tyre is flat. I quickly pull over to the side of the road and hop off. The nearest light post is playing hard to get and won’t turn on for me. The bulb is dead. When I light the mobile torch, I realise the problem count is not just one, but two. My half-asleep brain is slightly coming to sense. Yes, you are right. There is a second problem. My phone battery is actually dying. “No worries,” a assure myself, “I can manage to fix the tyre and get moving.” McDonalds should be only about a five minutes’ drive away. I feel the pit in my stomach. Urgency kicks in. I crouch and check that the rear right tyre looks different from the rest. I was right. It is flat. And need to be fixed before I can head to McDonalds. Oh, my god. I am really famishi...

 After months of wandering the streets, can this stray cat finally find a permanent and loving home? Story: S A Spencer Photo by   Akira   “What happened to her? Since last few days she is not coming to meet us.” Leena asks me while we are halfway through our evening walk. We’ve treaded the same route for almost ten years now, and it has become second nature. Most probably, she was not even born.           “Sounding like she is your second daughter!” I chortle.           Leena replies with a mild giggle. “Then you are also her father.”           “Maybe she is just a stray cat.” I reason to convince her, but my eyes circle around in case she would be hiding next to a parked car. Initially, we had thought she belonged to somebody. Possibly to the owner of the house in front of which we met her for the first time a few months ago. Whenever we passed through the house, she would be...

Meeting in person for the first time since they started working remotely, the two colleagues reminisced about the girl whose singing still echoed in their minds.   Story: S A Spencer Photo by  Elizeu Dias   “I am missing so many things I was enjoying near Townhall station. The coffee shop near my office, that Thai restaurant, what’s the name? Oh, yes, Chilli Box Thai Noodles, and that girl who regularly sings on the way to the station.”           “Come on Belinda, I understand about that coffee shop. You visited them almost twice daily on office days. Thai food joint, yes. That was my favourite too. But the girl who sings near Woolworths? No. I was with you most of the days. Did you ever spend a minute to listen to her melodies?”           After five months of adhering to strict Covid guidelines, Leena and I finally let loose with a fit of laughter. The free air around us tingles each of our nerves. Yes, the free...

Can a man join in the festivities at a baby shower, or is it a strictly female-only event? A side-splitting story that actually happened. Story: S A Spencer Photo by  Tai’s Captures A chill runs down my spine as I arrive at the venue for my colleague’s wife’s baby shower. I was never so much jumpy even when I came to appear at the interview for the company I am employed now. I am flooded with a flashback of the interview. I had stated I am a person who can cultivate amicable relationships with others and can connect quickly. I believe this was one of my strengths that landed me in this temporary to permanent job. Temp to perm! That means I need to prove my performance from day one. Thar day has arrived. One of the guys I spoke to on Zoom for my interview is now hosting the baby shower. When he circulated the invitation to all the staff through the office WhatsApp group, I was the first one to RSVP. I should have realised that the invitation was open to everyone, and likely on...