ITT Media
Stories that stay
with you.
Short stories to read, reflect on, and share —
a simple way to pause, notice, and connect.
This Week's Story
Emergency Contact
When we notice something about someone, how do we know what kindness looks like?
Jenny and Georgio retire at fifty-five to an active adult community in Florida, where they meet Tony and Marybeth, an older couple who quickly impress them with their energy and athleticism. Jenny is especially taken with Marybeth, who is stylish, confident, and capable, the kind of woman who makes Jenny think, I want to be her in twenty years. Later, at the pool, Jenny realizes Marybeth's bathing suit is inside out. What first strikes her as funny becomes unexpectedly complicated as she tries to decide whether telling Marybeth would help or embarrass her. Marybeth remains exactly the capable, engaging person Jenny admired before. By the next morning, Jenny still does not know whether she should have said something, but she realizes that noticing the mistake changed something in the way she saw Marybeth, and in how she imagines her own future.
However you read, there's something here for you.
There's no one way to experience a story. Start with what feels natural.
On your own
Read at your own pace. Sit with what stands out. A few gentle prompts help you notice what felt familiar.
With someone
Share a story with a partner or friend. The prompts open up the kind of conversation you didn't expect to have.
With a group
Gather a few people, start with a story, and see where it goes. No prep, no pressure — just a story and a few questions.
Finishing a story is just the beginning.
When you finish reading, a few simple prompts invite you to notice what stood out — nothing heavy, nothing required.
Just a way to sit with it a little longer.
Gatherings
Where stories are experienced together.
You don't need to know how to host to be a host. Invite a few guests, choose a story, and we'll guide you through the rest.
See how Gatherings workThere's always another story waiting.
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