The writer is an anonymous swimmer from the Bethesda area. Some details have been changed to protect the identity of the author.   Ever since my mom signed me up for club swimming at age 7,...

The world becomes muddled as I rhythmically spin around the dance studio to the beat blasting from the speaker. Lifting my leg high above my head, all I can think about is the moment when I’ll hit my...

After countless attempts at journaling, it’s never stuck. I’ve repeatedly tried to establish a routine for myself, setting aside time each night to sit with my feelings, regardless of what’s going...

It was a typical day in seventh grade, and as the bell rang loudly over the speaker system, I walked towards my history class, unsure of what topics we’d be discussing that day. When I found my seat...

It was 2 a.m. on a school night in 2022, and at 13 years old, I should have been sleeping. A very important pre-algebra test awaited me in the morning, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I sat in the darkness,...

This story was published in print in February 2024. Oct. 26, 2023: I’m in an eerily dark room. I feel three green snakes slither up my body, wrap around my neck and choke me. I attempt to rip off...

When my uncle suggested that I apply for a job at the local butcher shop, I assumed he was joking. A butcher shop wasn’t the first place that came to mind when I thought of where I'd spend my time and...

My teammates were hugging and crying on the turf. I wanted to cry, too — we had just lost the state semifinal. I would never get to play with the same team again; our season was over.  I’d been...

I pull into my carport with blurry vision, tears streaming down my cheeks. My dad suddenly yelled that I was getting too close to the basketball hoop in our driveway. I panic, hitting the gas instead of...

One year ago, I embarked on a ski trip with a group of friends to Whitetail, a ski resort outside of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. During the hour-long car ride, we discussed our expectations for the trip....

I never understood how to talk to kids.  Most people could do it naturally, but it never came to me, and I had difficulty forging relationships with children. I figured my best bet was to avoid them...

Last summer, my cousin visited me during his summer break from college. He showed me a picture of him with his roommates, but the photo was in black-and-white. I asked him what was wrong with his phone,...