Author: Byte Journalist
When my father passed away suddenly at 58 due to a stroke, I thought the worst pain would come from losing him. I was wrong. Standing at the edge of his grave, watching them lower the casket into the earth, I felt a part of myself go with it. My dad, Mark, had raised me alone since I was ten, after my mom died. He was my anchor, my compass. And now—he was just… gone. Beside me stood my stepmother, Carla. She hadn’t shed a single tear. Dressed in white, pearls shining under the summer sun, she adjusted her designer…
A one-handed boy’s heart goes out to his late friend’s sick grandma, and he makes broth for her despite the difficulty of doing so with one hand. The sick older lady returns his charity in the most heartwarming way. “Do you promise me you’ll look after Gran Molly? She is tired, but she doesn’t say it, Edward,” George told his best friend in tears. He lived with his grandma after his parents abandoned him due to his leukemia diagnosis. Because Edward was his best friend, he asked Edward to watch after his grandma if his illness took him away from…
A son is so ashamed of his one-eyed mother that he hides her away from the world and refuses to allow her to come to his graduation. Most people didn’t know that Derek Ryder had a mother. When his friends talked about their parents, Derek just clammed up. He never invited any of his friends over to play video games or to watch a movie. In fact, from primary school all the way to his senior year in high school, no one ever set foot inside Derek’s house, not ever. When he started dating a girl, he’d tell her: “Look,…
If keeping your home safe from electrical hazards is a top priority, there’s one small but powerful habit you should start today: unplugging your air fryer at night—and in some cases, your toaster oven too. These popular countertop appliances have earned their place in modern kitchens for their speed and convenience. But behind their sleek design lies a hidden risk. Even when not in use, they can become unexpected fire hazards simply by staying plugged in. Why Air Fryers and Toaster Ovens Pose a Risk Fire safety experts and electricians warn that certain kitchen appliances—including air fryers and toaster ovens—can…
Ever since Linda married my dad when I was ten, she had this thing about being center stage. She wasn’t mean exactly—just… intense. Every holiday, every family photo, every birthday party somehow ended up with her in the spotlight, even when it wasn’t supposed to be about her. But nothing—and I mean nothing—prepared me for what she did at my wedding. Tom, my husband, used to tell me I was too forgiving when it came to Linda. And maybe he was right. I used to brush off her little jabs, the way she’d “forget” to include me in conversations about…
The steady drizzle tapped on the corrugated metal roof like a quiet dirge, its rhythm blending with the slow, mournful music of the funeral band. Beneath a makeshift canopy in the center of the yard stood a gold-painted coffin, resting on two sturdy wooden chairs. Around it sat rows of black-clad mourners, their umbrellas dripping with rain, their heads bowed low. The weight of grief hung as heavy as the damp air. Inside that coffin lay Elena—only 25, gone too soon. Elena had been the heart of the Carter family ever since she married into it. Kind, humble, and deeply…
At first, I thought it was just an innocent, sweet moment. My six-year-old son, Milo, had been obsessed with drawing lately—dinosaurs with giant claws, robot battles, dragons with googly eyes. His little hands were always smudged with crayon wax or marker streaks, and there were papers scattered all over the house. But that day, something was different. He came running out of his room holding a drawing. “Mom! I made this for the policeman!” he announced, eyes bright with excitement. I glanced over. “That’s nice, honey. Which policeman?” “You know,” he said with a shrug, “the one who waves. The…
A few days before my birthday, I was rummaging through the upstairs closet. Luke had begged me for the picnic blanket for a school outing, and—of course—I couldn’t say no. “Please, Mom,” he pleaded. “I already told my friends I’d bring the blanket and sodas. And I said you’d make those chocolate caramel cupcakes, too.” So, being the mom that I am, I started digging. Old suitcases, tangled cords, half-broken fans from summers long gone. And then, wedged behind the corner, I saw it. A black box. Sleek. Square. Tucked away like a secret. I wasn’t snooping, I swear. But…
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud was involved in a serious car accident in 2005 The 36-year-old Saudi prince was involved in a serious car accident in London in 2005 and had been in a coma ever since. An incident in England left the then-teenage Prince Al-Waleed with serious brain trauma and internal haemorrhaging. While he received urgent medical treatment for his injuries, tragically, he never regained consciousness. The prince relied on life support to keep him alive for the last 20 years of his life, which he spent in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Medical City. With his…
I still remember the morning the phone rang. It was a hospital number. My heart dropped before I even answered. “Mrs. Whitman?” the voice said. “I’m sorry. Your husband, Thomas… he didn’t make it.” My knees gave out. Just the day before, he had kissed my forehead and promised he’d be home in time for dinner. I waited for hours that night, telling myself traffic or a last-minute client had held him up. I never expected death. But what happened after his passing was a different kind of grief. A bitter, complicated one. You see, Thomas had a son—Daniel—from a…