Whispers of the Soul by Nadia Nizam

  One Missed Call… And a Lifetime of Truth The Mirror Our Children Hold Up Yesterday, someone from our extended family called after decades of silence. At the time, my daughter was using my phone, so I remained unaware. Today, when I noticed the missed call and asked her about it, she replied calmly: “Mom, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t understand why they would call after so many years. Do they need something? Or is it some very special occasion? People like this don’t call out of love, they call when they need something.” I tried to defend them. I said it might be something important, that perhaps they wanted to say something meaningful, and that she should have answered the call. But her response stopped me in my tracks. “Mom,” she said gently, “I’m sorry if this hurts you, but as long as I can remember, such people reach out only on their own terms, when they need you, when it suits them. And once their need is fulfilled, they disappear. Sometimes they even point out your f...

 In the realm of adolescence, where emotions run wild, There dances a girl, just fifteen, an enigmatic child. She navigates a world of change, where hormones ebb and flow, And in her heart's tempest, her true self seeks to show. Her behavior, oftentimes, a puzzle to unfold, A mix of contradictions, a story yet untold. She yearns for independence, to spread her wings and soar, But still clings to childhood, uncertain of what's in store. Her moods can be a tempest, swirling fierce and strong, One moment filled with laughter, the next, a mournful song. She battles inner demons that nobody else can see, And struggles to make sense of her own identity. She questions societal norms, rebels against the grain, Challenging authority, seeking freedom from the chain. Her defiance can be daunting, a whirlwind of unrest, But beneath that fiery surface, a tender heart beats in her chest. She craves validation, acceptance, a place to call her own, Yet fears rejection, judgment, feeling painfu...