gokselwrites

[gokselwrites]

i'm not saying people shouldn't be reading more books, but i do think it's funny how many people thinking "reading comprehension" is just about how good you are at reading books and not like. criticial thinking skills.

[gokselwrites]

The urge to give every possible spoiler for my fantasy project…

[gokselwrites]

Can I just endlessly talk about how amazing Purple Hyacinth WEBTOON is? It’s by far my favorite one, with its amazing art, music and story. No, seriously. That comic has my heart and soul, and I will wait for it like a faithful partner.

[gokselwrites]

The flames consume bodies—or do the bodies fuel the flames? The UNRWA clinic massacre in Jabalia just happened, taking the lives of 19 people, including 9 innocent children. As a mother in Gaza, I live in constant fear, with no safe place to turn. My baby, Qais, was injured in this cruel war, and I have no money to afford his treatment. Please, I beg you to help us. Your donation could save his life.

This tragedy reflects the terrifying reality in Gaza:

1. Children Are the Victims – 9 of the 19 people killed were children, caught in a place meant for healing.

2. Nowhere Is Safe – Even clinics and shelters are targets, leaving families with no refuge.

3. Urgent Medical Needs – Injured civilians like my son are left untreated due to the collapse of the healthcare system.

How many more must die before the world acts? I ask you from the bottom of my heart: help me save my son. Qais is still so small, still learning to speak, and he deserves a chance to grow, to heal, to live. Without support, I fear I will lose him. Please donate—your kindness can be the difference between life and death.

Donate Now Here

Vetted by @gazavetters , my number verified on the list is ( #64 )🍉🇵🇸

[gokselwrites]

I wrote a contrapuntal poem for my own characters that belong to my fantasy project. The inspiration belongs to @two-bees-poetry.

Please check out her poems to they’re all really good!

[gokselwrites]

Day 4: Write a story with no characters. Let your scene tell the story.

Thanks to @kcl-teaches for the prompt.

***

As the dim light of the streetlight lit up the ground, even the tiniest insect could be seen. The quiet melody of the wind mixed with the endless chirping of birds, whom didn’t seem to know when to sleep or tell all the secrets they had seen.

Road was empty. Any sign of life, human life, which has given a meaning to the marching of time, any breath to tell you who you were couldn’t be seen or heard, except for the little birds, whom didn’t seem to know when to sleep or when to tell all the secrets they had seen.

It was a lovely night still. Little hints of red adorned the green of the grass and little flowers showed signs of dying. It, however, wasn’t the concern of nature. Winter’s marching footsteps brought a chilling wind. Dark clouds wandered over earth, veiling the moon and its weak light.

The birds kept crying like crazy. Their sounds resembled screams of agony and disturbed the emptiness of the night. Poor little birds. The terrors they had witnessed.

And then a storm started. It drenched the earth and cleaned all the evidence of evil. The knife which was painted in red started to shine silver again. The strong smell of blood got less and less detectable and the birds stopped chirping as the first rays of the sun were seen at the horizon.

[gokselwrites]

Write a story with absolutely no dialogue @kcl-teaches

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. But what for I had no idea. Now that I think of it, I still had hope. But what if he showed up, what would I do? I have no idea. Maybe it was for the best.

I couldn’t leave the house. No I couldn’t leave at all. If he came and I miss- Why did I still care? Why, after realizing heaven is not real, did I still care? When did this idea spread not only my body but also my mind like the plague?

I felt out of place. I had an ideal. An ideal that shattered down to pieces. But why I still can’t wake up? What kept me shackled? I turned to my side trying to get more comfortable. The dim lighting of my phone mirrored in my eyes.

I had countless unread messages, mostly from my “friends” and some from my brother. Mom and dad were lost long ago. Maybe I should’ve let them in before it was late.

What was wrong with me? Now I know. And I’m content. I’m content that I will be free before I close my eyes. My phone was glued to my hand. I still had hope.

I sighed and got up. I had been lying down all day. Though I put on some makeup and chose a good dress, a little extravagant for winter and I was freezing but it was all to impress him. Even after betrayal, I was still pathetic.

I remember wondering when it all started. It was always like this. Farther away he was, the more obsessed I became. However, I never thought there would be blood in my hands. Maybe it was nice knowing he was as disgusting. We deserve each other. Even in death.

While I made my way to the bathroom, I saw him. Even then he looked dead. But I didn’t know yet. I ignored him and his bloody face. He didn’t follow me to bathroom. Sure, it was small but two of us could easily stand.

Taking a deep breath I looked at my reflection in the mirror and realized he didn’t need to follow me. I looked equally dead, my eyes wide open with terror. Dark circles under them were completing the picture. I couldn’t sleep.

Or maybe I did. I can’t remember. I like to imagine it was the best sleep I’ve ever gotten. Makes it more dramatic. Worthy to be on posters or between poems.

It was useless. Deep down I knew I was all alone. Who wasn’t? The connection between humans was a thin thread between bodies. If souls did exist, each of them were created to be alone.

I scoffed and wetted my neck. The cold water was enough to get me back to my senses. I opened my eyes again and this time, the reflection on the mirror was someone I knew.

I went back to my couch and laid down. My makeup was starting to feel icky and my legs were hurting because of the cold. I closed my eyes again and tried to picture his face. When the only thing I saw was darkness, I opened my eyes.

My gaze lingered on the ring that adorned my finger. I suited me better. For a moment I wanted to be, sincerely, deeply, fully loved. My whole heart was beating to have someone inside. All I could think of was him.

No, I didn’t want to turn out like this. Who would want it? Still, I know I have done this to myself. Everything could’ve been so different. I could’ve make my choices so different. But no, no, I’m content. This is how it’s supposed to be.

My finger traced over the ring. A soothing sense of belonging washed over me. I took off the ring and let it fall into the ground. While listening to the metallic sounds I closed my eyes hoping this would be the last time.

[gokselwrites]

Dear Supporter,

I hope this message finds you and your family in good health. My name is Eman Zaqout from Gaza. I am reaching you out to seek your urgent help in spreading the word about our fundraiser. I lost both my home and my job due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and we are facing catastrophic living conditions. 💔

I kindly ask you to visit my campaign. Your support, whether through donating or sharing, will help us reach more people who can make a difference. Thank you for your continued support for the Palestinian cause. Your dedication brings us closer to freedom. 🙏🕊

Note: Verified by several people as 90-ghost and aces-and-angels. ☑

Dear Eman and all,

I believe our words do make a difference and thus they matter. As a student myself I can’t make donations but I can share. Children die everyday in Gaza. Innocent civilians get slaughtered. No conflict can justify this gen0cide.

Please be aware of the people that suffer are human beings just like us. They deserve freedom and peace. I pray for your safety and peace.

[gokselwrites]

365 Days Challenge Day 2: Write a story using only dialogue.

Thanks to @kcl-teaches for the prompt :)

“I hope you don’t pick up-“

“Hello?”

“Um, hi. How are you,”

“Good, you?”

“Fine, I guess.”

“That’s good. Um- Did you want something?”

“No, no- I, uh, just wanted to check up on you.”

“Oh yeah, I’m fine.”

“Well, how was the party?”

“It was nice, y’know, hanging out with you guys.”

“Yea… It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”

“Well, everything’s fine, then?”

“Yep,”

“Maybe, y’know, we should speak more often. To make up for the time we can’t meet up.”

“As if that’s what you want.”

“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You left early. After we danced.”

“Ha-ha… Sorry about that. I uh, was feeling a little tired and uh, I thought maybe it was the drinks w-“

“-what a shame… I was having such a fun time.”

“What is it? Cat got your tongue?”

“No, no. It’s just- I mean like I said I wasn’t feeling good.”

“‘s fine. I don’t blame you.”

“Good to know.”

“Well, I say you come to my place to get your ring-“

“My ring?”

“Rude. Yes your ring. Didn’t she notice?”

“Where did you find it? I’m so stupid. I must’ve dropped it when-“

“I found it under my bed.”

“You good?”

“Yeah ‘m fine. Are you sure it’s mine?”

“I am sure. It is yours. I’m holding it between my fingers. It’s quite nice.”

“So you’re coming or not?”

[gokselwrites]

Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

[gokselwrites]

Day 1: Write about a character after a New Years' Eve Party

I will be following @kcl-teaches 365 writing challenge. Thanks for all the prompts.

***

My head was aching, perhaps my heart. I did not know. As I lay on the floor, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes all over my apartment, only small fragments of last night were flashing out before my eyes. I did not know. A full night of fooling myself was over. When did they leave? I did not know. There was only the truth now: loneliness. Its cold embrace was soothing me. When did things become this way? Maybe they always were; only people faked. I hugged back, closing my eyes and listening to its heartbeat, aligned with mine. Darkness washed over me, and I realized, not this year either. No, not yet.

I couldn't remember how much time had passed when I got up. My gaze wandered through my living room. Merry Christmas, everybody; life hates us all. The tree was still in the corner, plastic cups all over the floor, a glass one shattered on the rug, I almost stepped over it. I needed to vacuum. Was it this way? I don't remember. No, I'm sorry, I did not remember. My feet took me to my bedroom; the sheets were stained. Disgusting… I yanked the sheets off and took them to the hamper, to the bathroom. When I looked up, my eyes met with death. Eyes so cold and lifeless, it's unknown who they belonged to. I touched my face. No, not this year. Not yet…

I went back and put on new sheets, stainless, white sheets, almost like who I used to be. Innocence was a price to be paid. Oh, for what? For what, a mystery. A mystery to never be solved. I must vacuum. So I vacuumed. Every little crack brought memories back. But why didn't I remember seeing people off? Maybe they never came. That would be better. That would mean I didn't fool myself. Loneliness was scary. But loneliness in a whole crowd was terrifying. Hell, am I even lonely? I do not know. I did not know. There was just this hole in my head, perhaps in my heart. The feeling of distantness growing every day. 

I threw away beer cans and plastic cups. I lit up a cigarette as I walked to the window. A kid was hopping on her feet, a couple right behind her. Their smiles supposedly heartwarming. A man walks far behind them, talking to someone over his phone, I wonder who. All these lives scattered around the earth, yet none is significant. Well, maybe theirs are. Certainly not mine. Not after—no, it was always like this. I closed my eyes and inhaled. Was there any use of thinking? I did not know. The snow was finding its place on the ground. I could see little snowflakes dancing around. Oh, to be weightless. But was there any use of thinking? I will just smoke away my problems instead. I put out my cigarette and left it there. Let it burn. My head was still aching. But my vision was clearer. I did not feel hungry, though. My stomach was already twisted. Our laughs from last night echoed in my ears as I sat down. We were so loud, too loud, as if to close the distance. The music erased the awkwardness and only left lies. 

I didn't even like those people. Why invite them over if you can embrace your loneliness? I scoffed. "It's so lovely to see you!" She said when she hugged me. "We missed you." They said. But him. How close our bodies were when we danced. I could swear we almost kissed. I held his face right before the music ended. His face was in my hands, but his eyes were on the ground. His soul did not belong to me. Then he walked away. As he walked away, I knew it was for the best. He had someone waiting for him at home. It was quite shocking to tell the truth that his wife let him be with his friends rather than with his family. I hoped—yes, I did. But I did not expect to see him at my doorstep, holding a bottle of champagne. I don't know when all this started, but I feel the distance between me and people is getting wider. 

He left early. I knew that because after we danced, I didn't see him again. My head was too dizzy to care. The board games on the table showed how the rest of the night went. I wanted to win, but I couldn't. As always, my luck was playing with me. When we ate the roasted chicken, the conversation brought us hope for the future, a hope that we'll never think of again. As children, our parents would tell us about Santa Claus. For gifts we would be "good" children and listen to them. But as we grew up, we saw a world where gifts from Santa did not matter. Now this gift of hope would come at the end of every year to start a new one. Some kissed under the mistletoe they brought; maybe they ruined my bedsheets. While they kissed, we kept drinking and laughing, hearing the music so well but not feeling it in our hearts. Did we all even know each other? 

I rose up and headed to the kitchen. I only then realized how cold it was. It still is. My hands found my shoulders as if to warm them. The kitchen was a mess. The dishes resembled a mountain, and I had no energy to climb it. Coffee would be good. I found the instant coffee in one of the drawers and boiled my water. I closed my eyes as I waited and waited. The first few days always seemed so slow to me. They were the most painful. But was there any use of thinking? I say live the moment. A fancy phrase indeed. After I got my coffee, I went back to my couch. Unintentionally, out of habit, I surfed between channels. News was hopeful; Christmas movies were on air. Everyone seemed happy. They seem happy. But are they content? Not so much. 

I was pretty much sober now. I left the coffee mug on the side table and went to my room to change my clothes. Only then a ring on the floor, nearly under my bed, caught my attention. I held my breath, my heart beating like crazy, and I bent down. The ring was delicate inside my hand. I sat down on my bed. I finally exhaled when I saw his initial inside the ring. T… I closed my fingers and sunk my nails into my skin until I drew blood.