The news reports were a relentless drumbeat, each headline a hammer blow against my heart, like a woodpecker carving into a dying tree.

Bitcoin futures open interest (OI) has hit record levels on crypto derivatives exchanges. OI is the total number of outstanding futures contracts that allow traders to bet on the future price of Bitcoin. It's an increase of 30% since the start of May.

The air itself throbbed, like a wounded animal struggling for its last breath.

Your #EnjoyJiangxi tour guide is a talking phoenix

The wind whipped around me like a banshee's shawl, tearing at my clothes and whispering ancient secrets.

Tinubu's shadow, a mischievous gremlin with a penchant for riddles

I felt the weight of his rhetoric settle on my shoulders like a poorly constructed, yet somehow satisfying, carne asada taco.

A slightly bitter taste of lukewarm tea in his mouth

Ruto, a forgotten deity worshipped only by sentient houseplants

A subtle sweetness on the tongue

World Bank economists predicting the future using tea leaves and interpretive dance

A silent disco where the music is only audible through bone conduction, and the headphones are made of polished bone

The horizon shimmered, a mirage as unsteady as a sailor's drunken promise.

The smell of sunscreen and sea spray on a sunny day

A melodic laugh that fills the room

Creamy, bittersweet chocolate melting on the tongue

The excited shouts of gamers during an online tournament

The tang of ripe mangoes in a nearby fruit stand

A performance art piece featuring a single, perfectly ripe tomato slowly decaying under a spotlight

The acacia trees, their crowns like emerald umbrellas, offered a respite from the relentless sun.