Play: One last act

by Manas Joshi

Told through a single, uninterrupted voice message, Play is a haunting and intimate portrait of a broken bond between mother and son. Diagnosed with a terminal illness and burdened by years of silence, he presses "record" to say what should have been said long ago. What begins as hesitation soon unravels into a flood of raw emotion—childhood memories, quiet resentments, fragile love, and a desperate need to be heard one last time.

This isn’t just a story. It’s a confession. A goodbye.
And perhaps, a plea for forgiveness.

For anyone who’s ever held back a message too long, Play is a tender reminder that even in silence, love can still speak.

85 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2025

About the author

I am the author of Fleeting Breeze—a brutally honest memoir written not to heal, but to destroy. My writing is not meant to inspire or comfort. It is meant to confront the darkest parts of existence and strip away the illusions of hope.

Before Fleeting Breeze, I published my debut work, To My Mother—a tragic tale exploring the depths of despair and the cruel indifference of life. While it touched upon themes of loss and hopelessness, Fleeting Breeze is a rawer, more personal account.

I write because the world I inhabit is already shattered. My words are nothing more than fragments of a broken mind trying to bury the last traces of light.

If you choose to read my work, understand that it is not meant to save anyone. It is meant to embrace the darkness and find solace within it.