“I thought you were the one I would marry,” he whispered, his voice breaking as he reluctantly handed me a bag of my belongings.

I glanced at him, unsure if I had the courage to meet his eyes.

For a split second, I considered taking it all back —I could tell him I changed my mind and wanted to continue our relationship. I could make the break-up — the pain, tears, and despair — disappear with a simple sentence.

“But I don’t love you …” I replied softly, as if the volume of my voice could temper the blow.

I…

“Do you want to grab a glass of wine?”

I immediately recognized this as the adult version of “Do you want to be my friend?”

I grappled for this lifeline that’d been tossed to me. On the inside, I was jumping with joy and giddiness. On the outside, I played it cool — friendly but not too eager. I didn’t want to scare away this new potential friend.

“Yeah, sure! I’ve got a bottle already chilled in my fridge. I’ll be right over!”

Okay, maybe I didn’t quite play it as cool as I intended.

But as the “new person”…

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has received a lot of hate through the years.

As someone who’s always had a soft spot for this movie, it’s a little bit painful. But I can take the jabs and cries of disbelief from my friends when I admit this. I smile, shrug, and say, “Yeah, it’s one of my favorites!”

Then I took things to the next level by publishing a story about how much I like it.

But I was recently floored by something called the Machete Order. It’s a recommended viewing order for the Star Wars movies created…

WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

I like country music.

There — I said it. I put it out for the world to hear and now I brace myself for the backlash.

Normally I get a look of confusion and surprise. Sometimes a wrinkled nose or a raised eyebrow. I don’t look like someone who likes country music — whatever this “look” is supposed to be.

I’m not a redneck or a hillbilly. I didn’t grow up on the farm and I’m not blue-collar (though I’ll sing to Lee Brice as if I was). …

“The pen is mightier than the sword” — a powerful and inspiring battle cry that has passed through the lips of many journalists, leaders, and philosophers.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, this saying is used to emphasize that

“thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence”

Originally coined in 1839, this phrase still remains commonly known and used 182 years later. Though perhaps Tweets have replaced the pen and guns have replaced the sword.

How has this saying aged with the passage of time? Is it still applicable in our society…

SATIRE

Tired of heatwaves? Air conditioning isn’t strong enough? Wishing you could escape the monotony of your pandemic life?

Fret no longer — plan your next vacation to the International Space Station!

Yes, that’s right. The iconic International Space Station is opening its prestigious doors. No longer reserved solely for trained astronauts, you have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a pioneer in interstellar tourism!

Be the first of your friends to visit. Your bragging rights will include literally looking down on them. Need we point out that the views are breathtaking and quite simply out of this world?

What to expect

Your stay at…

In my deepest moments of despair, no white knight came to my rescue.

No matter how daintily I cried into my pillows, no comforting hand was laid on my shoulder. No matter how poignantly I brushed my hair, no tap on my window sill woke me from my distracted thoughts. No matter how prettily I arranged my dress skirts amongst a field of flowers, no kind stranger stepped out from the trees.

No white knight ever emerged to sweep me off my feet. There wasn’t even a cheery bird to whistle a happy tune at me.

I guess I’m not…

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has received a lot of hate through the years.

The Wrap ranks it as the worst of the Star Wars movies. Jar Jar Binks might arguably be the most hated character of the Star Wars franchise. And most painfully, the Machete Order doesn’t even include Episode I, judging it superfluous to the plotline.

But I’ve personally always had a soft spot for this movie.

Maybe because it’s the first Star Wars movie I ever watched.

I was 9-year-old at the time and I primarily watched two things — Disney movies and Asian martial…