nadiera hashim: 2025

Assalamualaikum, hi. Okay, it’s time. Time to post the last blogpost for this year. To be very honest, I don’t have many achievements to flex about this year.

Just two, actually:

Tak bunuh diri.
Tak bunuh orang.

Pat pat pat myself. I deserve a medal. Maybe a cake. Or at least a gold star sticker from the universe. I survived. Honestly, I don’t even know what people usually write for an end‑of‑year post. Do people do yearly reviews? Do they list achievements? Do they pretend this year was amazing? Because if I start reviewing everything bad that happened to me this year, nanti rasa macam nak rebah pula.

Too heavy. Too depressing. Not today.

So I decided not to do that. Instead of forcing myself to write about semua benda buruk, I chose to write about the small good things. The quiet moments. The lessons that didn’t come with fireworks, but still mattered. Maybe this blogpost won’t sound like a “wow what a year” kind of post. But it’s honest. And honestly, that’s good enough for me. So yeah. welcome to my last blogpost of the year. No highlight reel. Just survival, reflection, and a bit of humor so I don’t cry halfway through writing it. Let’s go.

They left paw prints on my heart 🐾🐈‍⬛🐈

Awal-awal lagi dah sedih dah ni. By the way, Boba and Cengkih left me. Too early, both of them gone from this world. I always feel like I didn’t give them enough in life. But I believe, the two years I took care of them, they were more than happy. Takkan tak happy kot? Both of them chubby and perut boroi-boroi!

It’s been 11 months without Boba & Cengkih in my life. But me and mother still always talk about them. Kadang-kadang, on random days, salah seorang dari kami akan share pictures of Boba & Cengkih. I miss them so much! They were our daily companions—sleeping buddies, makan buddies, even toilet buddies. Seriously, I am scared of cockroaches, so before I enter the toilet, Boba & Cengkih had to check first. Selamat ke tak untuk kakak, kan?

It took me almost a year to throw away all their medicine. Semua personal stuff I kept for them, slowly I let go, one by one. Some already expired, some cannot be used anymore. Tapi their name tags? I always carry them wherever I go. A small thing, tapi makes me feel dekat dengan depa.

It’s really not easy to go one day without thinking about Boba & Cengkih. Sometimes my fingers scroll the gallery, watching their videos and looking at pictures. Every night, I cry. I miss them so much. I always tell myself: “Be good. Do good. Maybe one day I can enter heaven and see Boba & Cengkih again.”

Ustaz said cats don’t enter heaven. They become dust. Maybe sebab perangai depa dekat dunia ni macam setan kot? But once I enter heaven, I want Boba & Cengkih there with me. Just imagining it makes me feel a little comforted.

The same words I always repeat when I remember them:

"Thank you tau for being my companion, and I’m sorry I couldn’t save you from parvo. Kakak & mother love you so much."

I hope they know how much they were loved. And I really hope they forgive me.

Even though they’re gone, memories of Boba & Cengkih stay with me, how they fought over the same spot on the bed, how they chased shadows at midnight, or how Cengkih always knead cookies on my head, and how Boba always peed on my bed just because I didn't refill his kibbles. Life feels emptier without them, but loving them was worth every moment.

Orang baik datang sekejap, tapi tinggal lama di hati 🕊️

During last Ramadan, I realized I met ramai orang baik. One of them was this pakcik. Orang kampung panggil dia Pak Nan. We didn’t know each other for long, just kenal sekejap, but somehow terasa dekat.

Pak Nan always stopped by the shop to buy drinks for buka puasa. Sometimes he stopped at the mosque to get bubur lambuk, and every time he passed by our shop, he would give me one pack of bubur lambuk. Tak pernah miss.

One time, Pak Nan said,

“Pak Nan kenai hang lambat. Kalau Pak Nan kenai hang dulu, Pak Nan bagi hang kawin dengan anak Pak Nan.”

Caittt… bagi harapan kejap 😭 But oh well, the chance already passed.

He was too kind, sampai kadang rasa macam ada bapak sendiri. By the way, Pak Nan ni bekas tentera, tak sure darat ke udara, but people said he’s a retired soldier. He looked fierce, but his fatherly nature made an orphan like me terus cair. Maybe sebab rindu kasih sayang ayah.

Throughout the fasting month, there was always something he treated me to. Laichikang, Milo ais, corndog, kuih muih, macam-macam. Simple things, but they meant a lot. Bersyukur sangat dapat jumpa orang baik macam ni.

When I think about it again… even though this year felt very heavy, kepala otak penat and hati pun letih, Allah still kirimkan orang-orang baik along this thorny journey. And it reminds me , jadilah orang baik. Be kind to anyone, even random people. We never know apa dugaan hidup others are going through.

At least, our small kindness might make someone feel appreciated, walaupun secubit je 🤍

I yap, she listens 💬🗨️

This year, I’m not even sure berapa kali I met Najihah. Usually, based on previous years record, kami jumpa maybe two to three times a year je. But this year, rasa macam lebih dari tiga kali we actually hang out together.

I’m 100% sure this year I did yapping alot bila dengan Najihah. From kerja stories, relationship stories (yang tak pernah jadi), sampai cerita peribadi semua keluar. I’m really grateful to have Najihah. I don’t even know macam mana dia boleh tahan dengan perangai aku. Thank you, Ji. Please jangan serik kawan dengan aku 🙏

One thing both of us can really relate this year is :

bila nak dapat jodoh ni sebenarnya, ya Allah?

It’s kinda funny how both of us tried using dating apps, hoping to find jodoh, but ended up annoyed gila with the guys there. Ya Allah… semua red flag 🚩Ada lelaki yang out of nowhere minta gambar selfie, padahal belum tanya umur berapa lagi. Yuck, tak suka. Tak sampai seminggu pun, both of us already delete account. Swipe sikit-sikit je terus: dislike, dislike, dislike.

Hopefully, in these remaining 3 years before turning 30, both of us will finally meet a good jodoh — bukan yang bagi headache, tapi yang bagi duit dan kebahagian😌

Uncle Neoh 👲🏻👻

I never told anyone this story about this uncle cina before. Long story short, saya kenal dia because he was a friend of my late brother-in-law. Lepas abang ipar saya meninggal, I helped my late brother-in-law's wife jaga her small café. Dekat situ lah I first met this uncle.

His name was Neoh Thuarn something… honestly I don’t remember his full name sebab nama dia tak macam Chinese name biasa. But yes, he was Malaysian. Uncle ni baik gila. Kalau kami sibuk dekat kedai sampai tak sempat breakfast, he will always buy food for us. Kadang-kadang dia datang kedai just to ask,

“Lu orang mau makan apa hari ni? Saya belanja. Pizza mau?”

Like… terlalu baik sampai rasa suspicious sikit 😭

Kadang-kadang dia datang bawa makanan entah dari mana dia beli. So yeah, a bit suspicious lah. Ye lah, kalau main bedal je, halal haram pun entah 😭 Tapi overall, uncle ni memang baik. Durian, rambutan, manggis, mata kucing, apam balik, KFC, Pizza Hut, udang frozen — semua dia pernah belanja. Serious, apa saja lah yang dia tak bagi makan.

Then one day, uncle suddenly disappeared. Banyak hari dia tak datang kedai. I thought maybe dia merajuk sebab ada satu hari tu I tak sempat layan him sebab busy kerja. Dia tak datang sampai lepas Hari Raya.

One night, I got a WhatsApp call. But masa tu I tengah kemas rumah, phone tinggal cas dalam bilik, silent mode pulak tu. Lepas siap mandi semua, terus nak tidur. Last-last check phone, baru nampak Uncle Neoh call. Tapi dah pukul 11 malam, and I was super tired. So I thought,

“Esok pagi lah call balik.”

Next morning, I pergi kerja macam biasa. Kedai sibuk gila sampai lupa terus nak call. Bila dah slow sikit, around 8 pagi lebih, baru lah I call him back.

WhatsApp call — tak dapat.

So I call guna credit biasa.

Someone picked up… but it was a woman.

Conversation macam ni:

Me: Hello, Uncle Neoh ada?
X person: Hello, who is this?
Me: Saya kawan Uncle Neoh. Dia selalu datang kedai. Semalam uncle ada call saya. Uncle okay?
X person: Oh… uncle takda. Uncle pergi jalan-jalan.
Me: Oh okay. Nanti saya call balik. Thank you.

At that time I was like… okay pelik sikit, but never mind.

BUT WAIT.

About 15 minutes later, a Chinese customer datang. This uncle selalu datang dengan wife dia minum kopi. While I was making coffee, tiba-tiba uncle ni sembang dengan saya.

Uncle Cina: Eh, itu cina tua yang selalu tolong you… lama takda ah?
Me: Haah uncle. Lama dah dia tak datang. Tapi semalam dia ada call saya.
Uncle Cina: Itu cina tua sudah lama takda lor.
Me: Takda???
Uncle Cina: Ya lor. Sudah lama mampui.
Me: Aikkk uncle jangan main-main la. Baru tadi saya call, adik dia cakap dia pergi jalan-jalan.
Uncle Cina: Mana ada… dalam WhatsApp sudah banyak orang share gambar dia.

BRO.

I was TERKEDU. Like system crash. One whole body meremang.

If Uncle Neoh already meninggal…

⁉️ SIAPA YANG CALL AKU MALAM TU??

⁉️DAN KENAPA PULA ANGKAT CALL CAKAP “UNCLE PERGI JALAN-JALAN”??

Jalan-jalan ke mana weh 😭

Lepas tu I tried calling the number again. Phone already off.

After that day, other Chinese customer datang, semua cakap benda yang sama. Siap tunjuk WhatsApp group community Cina lagi. Uncle Neoh died few weeks after raya puasa which was on April . So who the hell called me on June?

I mean… kalau family salah call, kenapa call nombor aku??

Anddddd lepas je tahu cerita sebenar, I started seeing kelip-kelip masuk bilik at night.

Orang tua-tua cakap,
kalau kelip-kelip masuk rumah…
itu kuku cina mati 👻
(Please don't ask me orang tua mana yang cakap macam tu....)

Till today I still don’t know…
was Uncle Neoh just very kind…
or very rajin check on people from the other side 😭💀

My mother, my tempat pulang 🌻

My mother has always been my tempat pulang. No matter how jauh I run, no matter how broken I become, I always end up coming back to her. Lately, I notice something that makes my chest feel tight. Sometimes when mother tengah masak, I just stand there and look at her hair. Dulu hitam. Sekarang penuh uban.

It makes me sad.

Why are you growing old so fast, mother?

Can’t you slow down?

Can’t time be kinder to you?

I don’t even know how to live my life if one day you’re not here anymore. The world already feels too loud, too harsh and you are the only place that still feels safe. The first six months of this year, I was cold towards you. Mother told me later, she noticed. She said I was so close with my sister back then, sampai kadang-kadang I ignored her.

I regret it.

Sangat, sangat menyesal.

I chose to be close with someone who literally stabbed me from behind. Depan mother, dia mengata saya. Depan saya, dia mengata mother. Such a snake, hiding behind a familiar face.

Last July was the last time I stayed with her. I thought helping her was the right thing to do. If you read my previous blogpost I have wrote about my sister pindah rumah. I followed her, lived together for one month, just to help at the shop. But I couldn’t tahan anymore. Mother knows how long I tried. How much I endured. I helped with everything, without asking for anything in return. Even mother eventually couldn’t stand her behavior. Mother stopped helping her make nasi lemak every day.

So yes, I left.

And I came back home.

I pulang ke mother semula.

The last six months of this year were not easy at all. Mental breakdown after mental breakdown. Imagine helping someone sincerely, being there for them at their lowest point, only to be betrayed, talked about, stories twisted. That broke me. And when I was falling, mother was there.

Every single day.

Hari-hari mother peluk saya.

Hari-hari mother whisper,

“Takpe ayang, Allah ada.”

Mother held me when the world felt too heavy to carry. She stayed, even when I had tantrums. Even when I cried for no reason. Even when I was difficult to love. Mother healed me, slowly. Pelan-pelan. She tried so hard for me. She carried my pain silently, without ever complaining.

Now I look at her again. Older, more tired, but still loving me the same way. I just hope I’m not too late to repay her love. I feel frustrated because I’m still nothing. Still trying. Still struggling.

Ya Allah, panjangkanlah umur mother.

Lebihkan umurnya daripada umurku.

Kurniakan kesihatan yang baik untuknya.

Lindungilah dia setiap masa, dan berkati hidupnya.

I hope there is a special syurga just for mothers like her. I love you, mother. And selfishly, I hope I die first because I don’t think I can survive in a world this hard without your prayers. She is my doa, my home, and my tempat pulang 🤍

Choosing peace, not chaos 🌳

This year, I did butterfly hug therapy so many times I think my arms are permanently shaped like an X. It’s such a simple thing , just cross your arms, hug yourself. Tapi somehow it saved me from nights that felt endless. Sometimes I looked at myself doing it and thought, wow kesian juga aku ni. Kesian dekat diri sendiri. And for once, I didn’t run away. I hugged myself harder and whispered, you got this, maybe. Very cinematic, very main character vibes.

At some point, I had a serious chat with myself.

Cukuplah bantu orang lain.

This time, bantu diri sendiri pula.

Focus on yourself, please. Seriously.

Honestly, if AI could track how many times I wished to end my life this year, I think the system itself would crash. There was a point where ending my life seemed easier than living in this cursed simulation. Like… subscription to life feels very expensive this year. Penat. Sumpah penat. Even now, writing this, I’m like… world, boleh lah kot chill sikit.

But here’s the plot twist. Ending myself was actually… hard. Who knew, right? Maybe sebab ada secebis iman dalam hati. Or maybe sebab I’m scared of the big unknown. Or maybe sebab I remembered that my cat would judge me in the afterlife. I honestly don’t know. All I know is… I stayed. Bare minimum survival mode activated ✔️

I overthink. Like… Olympic-level overthinker. Sometimes it’s just one thought. ONE. And suddenly my brain calls a meeting, invites every worst-case scenario ever, thinking panjang lebar sampai takut, cemas, confidence slowly exits the chat. I hate that part of myself. But I’m learning not to roast myself for it… too much.

Last week, I read about stoicism. Yes, me, suddenly philosopher vibes. I’m tired of fighting everything. Tired of reacting to every word, every memory, every betrayal, macam dunia ni rasa penting sangat. Stoicism told me something I desperately needed to hear not everything deserves your energy. Some things deserve silence. Some deserve distance. Some deserve to be left on read.

There are things I can control:

my thoughts, my actions, my response.

And things I cannot control:

people’s nonsense, their words, their choices,

and their audacity.

Stoicism doesn’t promise an easy life. Sad but true. It just teaches a calmer way to carry a hard one. I don’t want to be emotionless. I just don’t want my emotions to hijack me like a bad TikTok trend. Next year, I want to live more inward than outward. Berhenti sekejap before reacting. Pause. Breathe. Ask myself, Is this within my control, or should I just let it go and scroll webtoon?

When my mind starts overthinking, I want to ground myself in the present: apa yang aku nampak, apa yang aku rasa, apa yang nyata sekarang. Not the disaster my brain is already writing a Netflix series about.

I want to accept that pain will come. But suffering doesn’t need a permanent residency permit. I want to stop explaining myself to people who are fully committed to misunderstanding me. Like, I don’t have time for your nonsense. Penat weh explain, hang bukan nak dengar punnnn.

I want to practice gratitude, not because life is perfect, but because somehow, against all logic, I’m still here. Most importantly, I want to be kinder to myself. Less judgment. More discipline.

Quiet strength, instead of loud chaotic survival.

Still broken? Yes.

Still overthinking? Of course.

Still alive? Somehow.

And honestly… that’s enough for now.

🕊️🐻‍❄️☁️🌱

This year, I am still broken. Some wounds masih clingy, some pain refused to leave like bad guests. But somehow, Allah still decided, okay, Nadiera, let’s give you some good people. Orang-orang baik yang muncul tepat pada waktunya. Macam plot twist yang tiba-tiba tapi sedap hati.

They didn’t fix me.

They didn’t save me.

But they reminded me that not everything in this world is out to get me. Some things are actually… okay. Shockingly okay.

Maybe that’s how Allah shows mercy, bukan dengan buang semua drama, tapi dengan bagi sedikit ketenangan dan kebaikan kecil bila saya paling perlukan. Quiet days. Warm hugs. Smiles that felt like tiny answered prayers. Even when I was like, apa benda pulak ni aku kena hadap sekarang? There were signs that Allah still had my back. (Matacheee ya Allah.)

Sometimes, mercy came in silence. A chance to just breathe, scroll webtoon tanpa rasa guilty, or sit with my overthinking brain tanpa kena panik. Sometimes, it came disguised as hardships jugak. Pain, heartbreak, disappointment, basically life testing my stamina. Tapi somehow it made me stronger in ways I didn’t see at first.

Allah’s mercy isn’t always comfy. Sometimes it’s the secret lesson hiding behind the chaos. And somehow, He gave me courage to come back to myself. To try again. To choose myself. To hug myself and whisper, you are enough, okay? Even when I felt broken, I kept moving, slowly, quietly, like a ninja… but clumsier and more dramatic.

So I end this year with a heart that is still healing. Still fragile. Still messy. But also ridiculously grateful. For the kindness of strangers and friends. For the tiny mercies I almost missed. For Allah, who never left me, even when I wanted to scream, throw a tantrum, or dramatically quit life. And somehow, that is enough for now. Enough to step into 2026 with messy hope, slightly chaotic faith, and a sprinkle of “okay, we got this… maybe.” 🤍

That’s my review of 2025.

Thank you, 2025.

Annyeonghaseyo, 2026.

Let’s see what nonsense, blessings, and little miracles you bring.

Kind regards, from a tired human,

Nadiera Hashim

11:30 p.m

Kedah, Malaysia.

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Life’s been kind of a mess lately.

I don’t even know where to start. Everything feels heavy. Some days, it feels like the only way to stop feeling like a failure is to just stop feeling altogether. That thought has been sitting in my chest more often than I’d like to admit.

My hormones are completely out of whack. I’ve tried so many supplements, but nothing seems to work. And it’s showing—especially on my skin. My face is full of acne and scars. Painful ones. Small, stubborn breakouts that keep attacking my jawline, my chin, my forehead… like they’re never going to stop. I hate my skin. I hate how it makes me feel—like I’m constantly trapped in this body that doesn’t even feel like mine anymore.

And then there’s everything else.

Kaklong said she wants to move to a new house somewhere in Kampung Jalan Panchor Kulim. She plans to rent a place there. I don't want follow her. I mean I cannot be with her. But at Kedai she asked me either I will follow her or not. So... Maybe I’ll follow her. I mean, if I don’t, how else am I going to help her with Kedai, right? But sumpah lah, I don't want to live with her and her children anymore.

But honestly… I’ve been feeling so annoyed with her lately. One thing about my sister is she can be really self-absorbed. It’s like everything has to be about her, her stories, her struggles, her achievements. And in arguments, she always flips it to make herself look good and me feel like shit. She never apologizes, never admits when she’s wrong. It’s exhausting. I feel like I’m losing myself around her.

One more thing, I honestly don’t really care if she wants to be in a relationship. Itu pilihan dia. But Ya Allah, she keeps changing men like it’s nothing. I don’t even know if I should call them a “partner” or just random men to keep her from feeling bored.

What really annoyed me was when I tried so hard untuk ringankan beban dia. I helped her pagi-pagi buta dekat dapur, to prepare nasi lemak. But instead of focusing, she spent that time busy messaging those men.

Sumpah, it annoyed me so much. It was like 24/7 messaging and calling them at work, at home, even during breakfast. Lama-lama, rasa meluat gila.

Part of me wants to run away. I don’t even want to work with her anymore. That’s when everything started to spiral. I’ve been trying to look for a new job searching on Facebook groups, asking around. But nothing. No leads. No idea what’s next. What am I even doing with my life?

And then I start comparing myself with others, my friends, my batchmates. They’re achieving things. Moving forward. Living. And me? I feel stuck. So, so far behind. Too far to catch up.

That’s when the thoughts creep in again, that maybe if I just disappeared, maybe if it all just stopped, I wouldn’t have to feel this failure anymore. I wouldn’t have to keep pretending. I wouldn’t have to keep hurting.

I know this post is messy. It’s not inspirational. It’s not pretty. But it’s honest. And maybe that’s all I have to offer right now.

Signing out,

Still here. Still hurting. Still breathing.

But yeah… feeling like shit.

Nadiera Hashim

5:30 pm

Kedah, Malaysia.

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Last Wednesday was one of those days that felt like a warm hug from the past. A rare and much-needed catch-up with my best friend Najihah. We’ve been inseparable since high school, macam kacang dalam pod. But as we grew older, life decided to do its thing and take us on different paths. Work, responsibilities, adulting in general, all busy stuff. Tapi somehow, we always make sure to meet at least once a month. Our little promise to pause the chaos and just hang out together.

Whenever we meet, it’s like dumping a whole month of tea, problems, funny stories, and random updates all at once. Nothing is off-limits. It’s raw, real, and full of laughter, and sometimes, okay fine, even a few tears slip in. That’s the beauty of our friendship, honestly.

For this month’s meet-up, we kept things super simple and dekat rumah je. We went to Kulim Central, which honestly is just around the corner from where we live. But honestly, it’s not always about the destination. The company is what really matters, and I swear, good company can make even the tiniest mamak feel like a five-star experience.

We kicked off our little date with lunch at Myeondong Tteokbokki. Najihah was craving their Seondubu Jjigae like crazy and of course I had to be the supportive best friend. Honestly, I’m not really a huge fan of Korean food. It’s just not my thing. But seeing Najihah so excited made it all worth it. I ended up with a simple chicken porridge and we sat down to eat, spilling all the stories from the past few weeks. The laughter, the side glances, the "remember that one time" moments, it honestly felt like high school all over again.

After lunch, we went to Llaollao because apparently, froyo is more important than solving world problems. I got pistachio yogurt with white granola and Chips Ahoy, and I swear, I felt something magical in my mouth. We shared a medium tube because sharing is caring, or maybe because I didn’t want to be judged for eating it all alone. Every bite was like, “Yes, life is good. Stop asking questions.”

But the highlight of the day? Definitely watching Blood Brother at the cinema. Let me just say this, it was worth every cent. I initially bought the tickets because, well… Syafiq Kyle. Enough said, right? But the movie turned out to be more than just good looks on screen. The plot twist had us gasping and clutching our seats, it was that intense. I haven’t felt that invested in a movie in a long time. It brought back memories of the last time we watched a movie together, Highland Tower, back in our high school days. Crazy how time flies.

Before heading home, we made a quick stop at CU Mart to grab some snacks because why not? We weren’t done talking, obviously. More stories, more emotional unloading, more laughter. As our little hangout came to an end, we grabbed some Ai Cha for our families, a small gesture that wrapped up the day on a sweet note.

Spending time with Najihah is always grounding. In the middle of our busy lives, it's moments like these that remind me of the importance of friendship, the kind that stays strong no matter how many years pass or how many things change. Just two best friends, a simple day out, and hearts a little lighter by the end of it.

Here’s to many more spontaneous meet-ups, deep conversations, and of course, more pistachio Llaollao.

Lots of love,
Nadiera Hashim
1:15 p.m.
Kedah, Malaysia.

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Assalamualaikum and hi. Honestly, I did not plan for this to happen. Tak ada dalam vision board langsung. This whole thing started very quietly, macam angin sepoi-sepoi bahasa yang tiba-tiba buat daun bergerak, lepas tu kita pun fikir, “Eh angin ke, atau perasaan aku ni?”

I met you few months ago. Kurang setahun weh. That’s not even enough time to finish a whole story in webtoon series. But somehow, in the middle of my busy life and random overthinking sessions, you sneaked into my thoughts like an uninvited guest who datang rumah orang tapi terus buka peti ais.

I don’t even know bila benda ni bermula. One day you’re just a person, next thing I know, I’m looking forward to your messages, your jokes, your laugh. Very rude of my heart, honestly.

And now, plot twist. You already belong to someone else.

Cue dramatic background music.

Cue me pretending I’m okay.

So here I am, professionally suppressing my feelings like a responsible adult. I laugh at your jokes, act normal, senyum macam biasa, while my heart is doing unnecessary cardio inside my chest. I hate being this version of myself, the silent admirer, the “it’s okay, I’m fine” person, when actually I have so much love to give but no proper tempat nak letak. Emotional storage penuh, no extra slot available.

Sometimes I observe you from afar, in a very halal, respectful, non-creepy way. More like, “Oh, that’s nice” sambil teruskan hidup. I admire you quietly because confessing is not my strength. Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s common sense. Or maybe I just tahu some stories are not meant to have a plot twist.

So I stay here, minding my own feelings, hoping masa will do its thing. Everyone says time heals, kan? Right now, time feels a bit slow, macam buffering dekat WiFi kampung.

Truth is, love doesn’t just disappear overnight. Dia linger sikit-sikit, macam lagu sedih yang tiba-tiba main dalam kepala masa tengah buat kerja. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and rasa biasa saja. No ache. No what-if. Just peace. Until then, I’ll continue admiring from a safe distance, keeping my feelings locked away like fragile items. For your sake, and mostly for my own sanity.

Life is funny like that. Kita tak minta, tapi perasaan tetap datang. And all we can do is smile, be gentle with ourselves, and move on… slowly, with dignity, and maybe a little bit of drama in our head.

Warmly,

Nadiera Hashim,

11:10 p.m

Kedah, Malaysia.

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Assalamualaikum and hi everyone. Growing up, I lived with a lot of silence. I am the youngest in my family, the bongsu, so from a young age I learned that talking too much or sharing my thoughts was seen as kurang ajar. In my world, speaking up was not welcomed. So I stayed quiet. I kept everything inside, afraid of what people might say. Slowly, I lost my voice, covered by silence and self-doubt.

Since I was young, I learned an unspoken rule at home: speaking up means melawan. So I pushed my feelings away and kept my thoughts to myself. I was scared of being rejected or scolded if I spoke honestly. Heh, of course I pernah suarakan my own thoughts, but maybe its sounded rude, so i got penampar from my older brother. Since that day, silence became my shield. Bila diam, jauhkan diri dari semua orang, I felt safe.

As I grew older, the silence became heavier. I saw others speak confidently, sharing their opinions without fear, while I stayed in the background, trying not to be noticed. Fear of judgment made me stay quiet. I felt invisible in a world that only listens to people who speak.

Because of this silence, I struggled a lot. I found it hard to build deep connections with people. I felt stuck in a cycle of insecurity and passivity. Many chances passed me by because I didn’t believe in myself enough to try. My silence slowly became a wall between me and my own happiness.

Silence also makes it hard for me to let my emotions out. I’m not good at telling people how I feel. I’m used to simpan semuanya sendiri. Even when I’m hurting, I stay quiet and deal with everything alone. Sometimes it feels like nobody wants to listen to me anyway, so I choose not to talk. I used to send a message to my older siblings, telling them about my problems, but they end up blaming me. After that day, I just stopped texting them. In the family group chat, I became the quiet one, only replying bila benda tu penting.

That’s when I realized something, the loudest scream is the one that no one hears. What we see or hear from someone does not always show their real struggle. The deepest pain is often hidden in silence, where silence speaks the loudest. Maybe that’s the reason I talk a lot when I’m with my safe person. With them, I feel safe enough to be myself. I just hope I don’t annoy them, haha.

It’s unfortunate , I mastered the art of being silent even when there’s a lot to be said.

Wishing you bright stars and moon,

Nadiera Hashim

10:30pm

Kedah, Malaysia.

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Assalamualaikum and hello readers. It always feels foreign every time I start to write here, again. Maybe because the gap between posts are long, I was away for too long. Happy new year and salam ramadan.

A lot of things happened last year and this year that I wish I could put everything in this post. But first thing first!

I graduated with a first class honours degree 👩🏽‍🎓🎉✨🤍

I was awarded a first class honours degree. Bearing in mind I’ve never been so great at allowing myself to feel proud of achievements. Earning a First-Class Degree felt like the ultimate reward for all the struggles I endured. The journey was anything but easy—I battled through the pandemic, juggling online classes, isolation, and the overwhelming weight of my own thoughts. Mental health became a daily fight, and trust issues made everything feel even lonelier. But through it all, I studied and studied, pushing myself beyond exhaustion because I had one goal in mind: to wear the "selempang emas" with pride on my convocation day.

That golden sash wasn't just fabric—it was proof of my resilience, my sacrifices, and my unwavering determination. It symbolized every sleepless night, every tear shed in frustration, and every moment I refused to give up. When I finally wore it, I wasn’t just celebrating a degree; I was celebrating me—the version of myself that refused to break, no matter how hard things got.

🧕🏻👶🏻👧🏻👦🏻🌻❤️

After my brother-in-law passed away, Kaklong and her children moved into Mama’s house. Now, we all live together under one roof. At first, it felt a little awkward having my nieces and nephew around all the time. I was used to being the youngest in the house, but suddenly, my life took a 180-degree turn.

I can’t be the "manja" daughter anymore because the new youngest family member is Ayra. But honestly, I don’t mind—I love them. Sometimes, I have to be the strict aunty, especially when it comes to their studies and discipline. But at the same time, I’m also the caring one. I want them to do well, but I also want them to feel safe and loved.

Living with Kaklong is fun. We talk about everything—sometimes for hours. Of course, we fight too, but after a day or two, everything goes back to normal. That’s just how siblings are. Even with all the changes, our home is still filled with love, chaos, and laughter.

😼🕊️🍂

The new year began with heartache. My beloved cats, Boba and Cengkih, left me far too soon. Both tested positive for parvo, and despite fighting like true warriors, they couldn’t stay any longer. They were more than just pets; they were a precious gift from Allah, bringing love and warmth into my life.

Losing them was devastating. It took me about a 2 months just to gather the strength to move forward, but even now, the sadness lingers. I still find myself thinking about them, missing their presence, their little quirks, and the comfort they gave me. Every time I pass by their graves, I whisper a quiet "hai" and "goodbye", just like I used to when they were still here. Though they are no longer by my side, they remain in my heart—forever loved, forever missed. Run free my sweethearts.

👯‍♀️🌙🌸☁️

Fourteen years of friendship—that’s how long Najihah and I have been by each other’s side. Through all the ups and downs, we are still together, and honestly, I can’t even remember the last time we had a real fight—probably back in Form 1.

I am so grateful for this friendship. Najihah has always been there for me, especially when I struggle with my mental health. She listens to every rant, every worry, every overthinking spiral I fall into. And when things get really bad, she doesn’t just offer words—she shows up. She has come to my house at night, just to comfort me during my worst moments.

She is my safe space, my bubble, the person I can talk to about literally everything without fear of being judged. She understands me in ways that few people ever could. Gosh, I love her so much. I just hope our friendship stays as strong as it is now, all the way until we grow old, still laughing, still supporting each other—just like we always have.

🧚🏻‍♂️🧋🌛👩🏻‍💼

As for work, I’m still helping Kaklong with her business. It may be a small business, but for me, the experience has been invaluable. From the very beginning, I was involved—registering for SSM, changing the signboard, handling documents, and everything in between. It has been a fun and meaningful journey.

One of the best parts is the people I’ve met along the way. Our business neighbors, who sell roti canai, are some of the nicest people. They treat Kaklong and me so well, and I feel comfortable talking to them. We always share good food and laugh together, making work feel less like a routine and more like an adventure.

I don’t know how long I’ll continue helping Kaklong with the business, but for now, I’m just enjoying the moments, learning as much as I can, and appreciating the people around me.

☁️🫧⋆｡˚

The lion is still alone.

I’m still finding my bubble. The lion is still alone. Many of my friends are already married, building families, and raising children, while I’m still walking this path alone. I remember a time when I didn’t care about being single—it never really bothered me. But maybe it’s because of my age, or maybe something inside me has changed, because now, I find myself thinking about it more.

I want someone. Someone I can talk to, someone who can accept this lion for who she truly is. I’ve discussed this with Najihah since she’s going through the same thing, and honestly, we’re both struggling to find our soulmates. A few weeks ago, I even tried a Muslim dating app, just to see if it could lead me to something meaningful. But I quickly realized how awkward I felt, chatting with strangers. What do you even say? How do you keep the conversation going when there’s no real connection yet? It all felt unnatural to me.— I uninstalled the apps.

Still, I pray for the best when it comes to my jodoh. Maybe soon, Allah will let our paths cross at the right time, in the right way. Until then, I hold on to the same du'a I always recite whenever I find myself drawn to someone:

"Ya Allah, ada satu lelaki ni, I don’t know what his intention is, but You know. If he is good for me, make it easy for him. If he is not, don’t let my heart attach to what’s not meant for me. Aamiin.”

🐱🌸💌

After I lost my dear friends Boba and Cengkih, Mama decided to adopt new kittens. My neighbor had planned to leave them at the market, so Mama stepped in and brought them home. I named them Cherry, Brownie, and Oreo.

At first, I felt a little sad seeing them in the house, using Boba and Cengkih’s things. It was a bittersweet feeling—I missed my two babies so much. But as the days passed, I found myself slowly moving forward. I still carry Boba and Cengkih in my heart, but I believe they would be happy knowing that I’m giving these new little ones a loving home.

For this new year of 2025, I hope that I can read back at this post, and be happy to see anything that I wish today, comes true. I hope the people that I have now, stays. I hope Cherry, Brownie and Oreo lives as long as I do, I hope He continues to bless us with His rezeki, I have to get going now, Happy New Year, everyone. May Allah keep us all in His loving hands. Bye!

Yours truly,

Nadiera Hashim

10:30am

Kedah

Malaysia.

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