F. banafshe in her recent post suggested that sharing loneliness makes it smaller and more bearable. a diagram came to my mind illustrating this theory, showing that dividing loneliness not only diminishes it but actually questions it entirely. when “we” lonely people are alone only for ourselves... Read All

The following paragraphs have been written over some time. the point i want to make is clear, and the way to say it is straightforward. but the first paragraph refuses to come. we’re stubborn. this piece has no introduction, no preamble, no lead-in. damn it. i crave single-focus living. i want to... Read All

It’s night, with a cool breeze from summer evenings. you’re sitting on my knees on the balcony. your eyes are closed. in the silence of the night, your breaths have become rhythmic. i run my hand over your freckles. you take a deep breath. you ask, “was it worth it?”i say, “it was.” cool is the... Read All

Nearly ten months have passed since my migration. i’ve accumulated a mountain of experiences and discovered new dimensions of resilience within myself. challenges that, if someone hasn’t faced them, seem like fleeting, abstract problems, transform into issues that jolt you day and night, from the mo... Read All

Even numbers are divisible by two integers, and odd numbers are divisible by two in a meaningless way. if you halve an even number, you get two whole concepts. halve an odd number, and you get two incomplete concepts. like any other incomplete thing: it exists, but you wish it didn’t. like the nu... Read All

Some things you realize all of a sudden. like the arrival of autumn, the end of winter, letting go, falling in love, aging, missed opportunities, realizing you’re no longer a teenager, realizing you can’t wear converse shoes anymore. like finishing high school and realizing you’re no longer a high s... Read All

When i left iran in may, i didn’t bring my hard drive. i didn’t want to give myself the slightest opportunity to dwell on the past. i wanted every new moment to connect to the present, not regret or nostalgia. it was a good idea. eight new months were recorded in my mind, not eight months of reviewi... Read All

Amazon currently produces three types of e-readers, and in my opinion, the best and most reasonable one is the paperwhite. unlike the basic version, it has a built-in front light, so you can use it at night without turning on a lamp, and it doesn’t have the sky-high, unreasonable price of the oasis.... Read All

It was past midnight. he opened the door and stepped into the house. snow clung to his shoulders. he turned on the lights and stared at the room for a moment. he hung his coat on the rack. he stretched out on the couch, turned his head, and gazed out the window. through the falling snow, the street ... Read All

Elaheh wrote in a post that observing herself in her photos made her question the concept of the “self.” reading it prompted me to gather and summarize thoughts i’d been meaning to write about the “self” for a while. the “self” in a religious sense is condensed into the concept of the “soul,” whi... Read All

For over 12 years, spend your days learning programming. sit at your stone age computer during all the times others are enjoying age-appropriate leisure, and spend all the nights others are asleep wrestling with code you barely understand. spend the days when others share romantic memories reading h... Read All

Dual-belief jealousy you think you’re enlightened, that you approach everything with logic, and that archaic, outdated thoughts have no place in your mind. you believe people have the right to do whatever they want, to have any experience they wish. but then, someone touches your lover, even just a... Read All