🌙 The Evening the Sky Spoke Softly

She walked home under a sky that felt a little too big for her mood.

The day had been noisy — people laughing in corners she wasn’t part of, moments happening without her, the kind of silence that feels like you’re standing just outside the doorway of someone else’s world.

So she took the long route home.

Not because she needed more walking, but because she needed the air to untangle her feelings.

Halfway down the path, a soft breeze brushed across her cheek.

Not strong, not dramatic… just enough to remind her that the world wasn’t trying to hurt her. It was simply moving, the way skies move, the way tides change, the way hearts slowly shift toward gentler places.

She paused under a lamp post.

The light above her flickered once, then glowed steady — like it decided she needed clarity tonight.

And in that small, still moment, she realised something:

Even if others forget her,

even if she isn’t in anyone’s photos today,

even if her name is not called,

she still exists in the quiet parts of the world —

and the world sees her.

The breeze sees her.

The light sees her.

Her own heart sees her.

She placed a hand over her chest.

It was still beating, still trying, still believing in tomorrow.

And somehow, that felt enough.

Enough to take the next step.

Enough to keep going.

Enough to stay soft.

She walked home slowly, letting the night carry her gently —

and for the first time that day, she didn’t feel left out.

She felt… held.

⭐ Today’s Work Stars — Sports Day Edition

1. Kindness & Heart — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You:

Gave your plushie to Mui Lian when she cried (this is a big-hearted move).

Helped the four sisters remove wristbands.

Said sorry when you bumped into someone.

Moved away politely when Xin Hui coughed.

Your kindness never switched off, even when people were upset with you.

2. Resilience & Emotional Control — ⭐⭐⭐

You stayed calm even when:

The water was disgusting.

Saufiq teased your smile.

Xin Hui scolded you multiple times.

You felt awkward or unsure.

You were rejected to sing.

Ah Chew scratched your face.

You didn’t explode. You held steady.

3. Team Spirit & Participation — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You joined:

Ball games

Taekwondo

Archery

Singing

Group activities

You showed up fully, even when nervous.

4. Communication & Social Effort — ⭐⭐⭐

You talked to:

Teck Mui

Sherman

Si Rong

Saufiq

Aidah

Your mum

You waved to people, sat with them, and tried to follow directions. That’s real effort.

5. Responsibility & Following Instructions — ⭐⭐⭐

You listened to Mr Satha, even when unsure.

You queue, join, participate, and do your part.

He said he’s proud of you — that’s huge.

6. Courage — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You handled:

Teasing

Rejection

Scolding

Physical pain (your scratched face)

Almost slipping in the bathroom

Traveling home alone

Trying three times to book a taxi

You still finished the day strong.

---

🌟 Total Work Stars Today: 15 Stars

Work and rest stars 🌟

⭐ Work Stars (19 Nov)

✨ Five Stars — Awareness, Effort, Resilience, Kindness, and Focus

Today you worked through a very busy, emotional, and social day — but you still:

Tried your best with the Chinese New Year stickers

Handled confusing moments with calm

Helped colleagues pass decorations

Managed small mistakes without giving up

Stayed focused even when people teased, stared, or moved away

Communicated with Teck Mui, Sherman, and others

Completed your tasks strongly and got affirmation from Mr Satha

Managed sensitivity moments at the bus stop

Packed your bag for tomorrow despite stress at home

Your effort showed in every small action. 🌷

Five work stars for you today. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌙 Rest Stars

✨ Three Stars — Reflection, Self-care, and Recovery

Tonight, even with:

Toothache

Stress with your mum

Emotional exhaustion

Touchy feelings at home

Tension about food and rules

You still:

Stayed aware of your feelings

Ate your dinner

Prepared your things for tomorrow

Reflected on what you’re grateful for

Tried to stay calm and not argue too much

Three rest stars for taking care of yourself even when everything felt heavy. 🌙⭐️⭐️⭐️

Morning Notes (Anonymous Edition)

This morning felt heavy before the sun even settled in.

I woke up feverish, still tired from the night, and the house was filled with sharp voices.

On the bus, someone kicked my leg, someone else shifted away, and another slammed the toilet door again.

Little things kept brushing against me — the shortcuts people took, the looks, the noise.

But I still kept moving:

breakfast, the lift, the quiet bench, the slow steps into the day.

Work felt busy with updates, small comments, missing faces, and sudden opinions.

I just tried to stay steady, even when everything around me felt unsettled.

Through Rain, Heat, and Small Collisions

Morning arrived with heat and nausea,

a body unsteady, a breath held tight.

Steps hurried beneath wet skies,

buses passing like moments I missed.

Strangers brushed against me

without knowing the weight I carried,

and even kindness slipped from my hand

before I could hold it close.

Yet I kept walking 

through the rain, the echoes, the small alarms 

finding my seat beside another soul,

still learning how to hold space,

even when the day began in fragments.

🌟 Work Stars – 13 Nov 3 Stars of Resilience

Today was tough — fever, stomach discomfort, and many small moments that made the day feel heavier. People bumped into you, some laughed, and you felt misunderstood. But you still showed up, did your tasks, handled corrections, and went to see the doctor. You noticed the good bits too — Sherman’s care, Mr Tan’s concern, and even little things like lychee drink on a rainy day. Despite everything, you continued step by step.

Three stars for showing up, enduring, and taking care of your health. 🌷

🌅 Morning Summary (Anonymous Edition)

Mum hurried me at 6 a.m. and warned she’d leave if I was late. I felt frustrated and pushed her slightly before heading out. I missed bus 28, so we took 293T together. A lady checked our EZ-Link cards. A schoolgirl kept staring; in the toilet, the door banged and people rushed. I saw someone kick another girl’s shoe before crossing the road filled with bicycles.

Later, a bicycle came very close to my phone and watch, and a girl sneezed on my bag. I pushed someone aside while trying to board the shuttle bus first. Inside the workshop, I greeted my trainer politely, helped a colleague with English–Chinese words, and joined small morning chats.

A relationship quote stayed with me:

“Come together to make each other better — support, build, believe, and be each other’s peace.”

November 9 – The Taste of Warmth and Noise

The day began with quiet intentions — a small meal shared, a walk beneath the lights of Tampines. The restaurant hummed with conversation and cutlery, the scent of grilled chicken and creamy soup rising like comfort. Yet beneath the gentle clinking of glasses, emotions flickered — impatience, scolding, the ache of being seen and misunderstood.

Still, there was kindness beneath the noise. A mother’s treat, given with love that wears sharp edges. Gratitude lingers like steam from a cup of lychee tea — sweet, fleeting, and sincere.

Later, on the bus, strangers hurried and kicked, the air heavy with frustration. But even then, I found myself whispering “excuse me” — a small act of peace, a soft rebellion in a restless world.

Tonight, I sit quietly again, remembering that warmth doesn’t always speak softly, but it still means care. And though the air feels hot and heavy, I know — this, too, is love trying its best to be understood.

🌙 Grateful for the treat, for resilience, and for calm that returns after the storm.

November 8 — Choosing Peace

A day of small tests and quiet lessons.

I reminded myself that calm isn’t weakness — it’s strength in disguise.

Even through noise and misunderstanding, peace is a choice I can keep making. 🌙

November 7 – Morning Light on My Birthday

The morning was quiet,

and I moved softly through it 

preparing everything on my own

while the world still slept.

Mum’s voice drifted from her dreams,

soft and familiar 

a birthday wish wrapped in warmth.

Dad’s message came like a steady hand:

“Take care, control yourself well.”

It sounded like love, disguised as guidance.

Outside,

the city stirred awake.

The uncle on the bus shifted away,

the lady on the bridge stepped aside 

yet somehow,

I felt surrounded by space to breathe.

Messages bloomed like morning flowers 

from Aunty Irene,

from 煦暖曆 with words like sunlight,

and from friends who remembered.

Si Rong offered me a biscuit 

simple, but sweet,

a quiet symbol of care.

Maybe birthdays aren’t about noise,

but about noticing 

how even a quiet day

can hold its own kind of love.

✨ A Quiet Space Between Hearts ✨

Proud to share that my short story has been officially entered into the Next Generation Short Story Awards 2026 under the General Non-Fiction category.

It’s a quiet piece about resilience, heartbreak, and finding peace in the present moment — turning pain into light. 💫

#ShortStoryAwards #CelineOng #AuthorJourney #CreativeWriting #QuietResilience #NextGenerationWriters

November 3 – Between Sickness and Small Moments (Anonymous Edition)

I woke in the middle of the night with an upset stomach, unable to sleep. Morning came heavy and slow. I laughed to myself remembering the diary my father once disapproved of — maybe I’ve always written too honestly. My mum was upset again; the flowers my grandmother bought were pulled from the soil, and harsh words filled the air.

Despite nausea, I ate kaya bread, took my medicine, and helped with the recycling before catching the bus. The sky was dark, the streets still half-asleep. A boy ran, a cyclist gestured for space, and I quietly crossed the road.

At work, I moved quickly as always. Teck Mui noticed, touching my shoulder with a brief hello. My fever lingered, yet I pushed through. Hua Wei avoided a friendly fist bump, and I told myself not to overthink it.

Sherman sent a small prayer for my recovery. Even when the day feels dim, kindness like that reminds me that gentle care still exists — softly, quietly, between the noise. 🌙

🌸 What I See in You

You build from silence 

not from praise,

but from the soft pulse

of something honest.

You walk through rooms

that do not see you,

and still you leave

a trace of light behind.

You create

as if love were a language

you refuse to stop speaking,

even when no one answers back.

You care 

too much, sometimes 

but it is that tenderness

that makes your world bloom.

And though the world

may count in numbers,

you count in meaning 

and that, Celine,

is your quiet miracle. 🌙