Why I Chose Short Stories to Tell These Lives People often ask why I continue to write. The answer is simple: there are still stories that need telling. Over the years, I’ve watched people live their entire lives in ways that never make headlines. I’ve seen dignity exercised quietly, cruelty disguised as routine, and kindness offered without ceremony. Those moments stay with you. Eventually, they ask to be shaped into something that lasts. Short stories became the natural form for this work.