The Ceiling Still Speaks: On Living With Family Trauma

Sometimes, I look at people who grew up in homes filled with laughter and warmth. They speak fondly of childhood holidays, of parents who ne...

When the Warning Bell Is Muted: Lessons from Megan Khung and the Legend of Hang Nadim

In early 2020, four-year-old Megan Khung died after more than a year of horrific abuse. The child was found in a metal pot, her small body b...

When the Ink Runs Dry and the Candle Burns Out.

I once had a conversation with a friend who candidly pointed out that a teacher is — “bagai lilin membakar diri, menerangi orang lain” — lik...

Rolling for Control: The Allurement of Playing Dungeons & Dragons

Imagine this: you’re with a group of friends, snacks all over the table, someone’s got a suspiciously fancy set of dice, and everyone’s argu...

The Thing About Children’s Day

Every year when Children’s Day comes around, we automatically think it’s for the kids. Schools plan games, teachers get creative with balloo...