Mdina, Malta is known as The Silent City, but wandering its ancient streets left me thinking less about silence and more about who gets to speak. From medieval punishments to modern public shaming, this historic walled city raises surprisingly timeless questions.

While visiting Taormina, Sicily, I stumbled upon an international literary festival and heard a local story about a clock frozen at 9:20. The experience became an unexpected reflection on books, storytelling, and the timeless nature of this remarkable town.

I spent years expressing myself through writing while struggling to speak spontaneously out loud. This is the story of how that happened—and why I’m learning to reclaim my voice.