Lifestyle - Page 2

Lana, her face shadowed with determination, stared into the mirror and whispered: — An orphanage rat, through and through! But rats have claws and sharp teeth. And I’m not giving up without a fight. Such fierce words could be traced back to Lana’s past. She grew up in an orphanage, and as far back as she could remember, no one had ever shown her any interest. She watched countless children find homes with adoptive families, even if some returned, unable to connect with those who took them in. Yet young Lana had a remarkable gift for academics. Teachers and caregivers …

Have you ever watched a wedding fireworks display from a hundred meters away, clutching an open bottle of champagne, sitting on a bench by the city waterfront? It’s a beautiful sight! Unless, of course, you’re the bride, and your groom is still back at the restaurant, watching the pricey spectacle alongside his “mommy.” That’s exactly what happened at my wedding. My loyal friend, who doubled as my maid of honor, was by my side. We drowned our sorrows in sparkling wine, wondering: how could a wedding go on without one of its main characters, and who gave the go-ahead for …

Snowflakes strike the window and slide down the glass like tears of rain. An eight-year-old boy sits on the windowsill of a hospital ward, watching their sorrowful dance. He feels deeply sad and wants to cry. His brown eyes and dimpled cheeks come from his mother, his hair and upturned nose from his father. A charming, fidgety, and restless patient, he quickly won the hearts of the children’s ward staff where he was admitted. The nurses fed him extra treats and pitied him. But his mother hadn’t visited once in three days. Still, Daniel was certain—she would come soon. His …

Margaret Anne spent her entire career as a teacher. She loved teaching, loved explaining complex subjects to children. She shared their joy when they grasped something new or solved difficult problems. Students came to her with academic struggles, and later, with personal troubles too. Margaret was a kind and gentle woman, qualities that her students deeply valued. She had two daughters of her own, Emily and Sarah. The girls grew up surrounded by love and care. Life became harder after Margaret’s husband passed away, but she managed to provide for them. Her husband had been a man of considerable means, …

Sarah had spent her entire life in a small village on the outskirts of Greater London. Few people knew of this place, but Sarah was a creative and ambitious young woman. Naturally, she dreamed of moving to the capital, but how? She had no plan… and to make matters worse, her parents were growing anxious that, at 24, Sarah was still unmarried. — Sarah, have you considered James? What a man! — her mother said, bustling about the kitchen while offering advice. — A huge house, his own livestock, and that garden of his is something else! — Mum, he’s …