Story Therapy

  Image by AI He fought society’s cruelty to give his mother the love she was denied. Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles Rohan first noticed something was off when Neil started dropping by more often. They’d been mates since uni — the kind who’d grab a beer after work, talk footy, complain about bosses. Neil had always been welcome at their place, but lately he seemed to appear at odd hours, sometimes when Rohan wasn’t even home. At first, Rohan didn’t think much of it. Neil was friendly with everyone, and Anita had always treated his friends like her own kids. But then he saw the way she opened the door one evening — smoothing her hair, adjusting her dupatta, checking her reflection in the glass cabinet. Anita never did that. Not since the divorce. Not since his father walked out with a woman barely older than Rhea. Neil stepped inside with his usual grin, but Anita’s smile was different. Sof...

  Image by AI He fought society’s cruelty to give his mother the love she was denied. Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles “Your mother is a woman first, and then your mother,” Ananya said, her voice steady, her eyes unblinking. “She has needs you can’t fulfil, Rohan. Emotional needs. Physical needs. She’s lonely, and she’s too shy to tell you.” The words hit him like a slap. They were sitting on his bike near the old banyan tree, the evening sun turning the dust golden. He had never heard anyone speak about his mother like this — not in this town, not in this lifetime. Ananya leaned closer. “You’re twenty‑three now. Old enough to understand what loneliness does to a woman.” Rohan swallowed. “She’s fine. She has me.” “No,” Ananya said gently. “You can support her financially. But you can’t hold her when she cries at night. You can’t give her the warmth she’s been denied for two years. She ne...

  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...

 Image by AI A Tender Tale Of Abandonment, Misunderstanding, And Unexpected Redemption Story: S A Spencer Author of Popular Fictions :  The Pink Mutiny ,  The Black Waters ,  Dream In Shackles I didn’t understand why the humans were shouting. All I knew was that the gate had slammed behind me, and the world suddenly smelled different — sharp, metallic, full of fear. I pressed my nose against the bars, waiting for my human to come back. He always came back. He wouldn’t leave me here. Not in this strange place with barking that sounded like crying. A man in a blue shirt walked towards me. The sun was behind him, turning him into a glowing shape. He bent down, lifted me gently, and whispered, “You’re safe now, mate.” Safe. Now. The words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I didn’t know who he was, but something in his voice felt bigger than him. Like the sky had spoken through him. Like he wasn’t just a man — he was something more. Maybe this was God. Mayb...