An Ode to Kindness - By Narricka Longbridge

Written By: Narricka Longbridge

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Introducing "An Ode to Kindness," a poignant short story by Narricka Longbridge, featured in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This captivating narrative takes readers on a mystical journey through the wetlands, where spirits and demons roam, and a woman named Okobe ventures into the forest seeking liberation. Set against a backdrop of nature's enigmatic beauty, Longbridge's tale explores themes of despair, hope, and the redemptive power of kindness, inviting readers to reflect on the human condition and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding.

About the Work

Narricka Longbridge's "An Ode to Kindness" is an evocative exploration of despair and redemption set in a supernatural realm. Through vivid imagery and a haunting narrative, the story captures Okobe's journey as she grapples with loss and seeks solace in the depths of nature's mysteries. The characters are intricately woven into the fabric of the tale, with a spectral presence offering unexpected compassion. The story's mood oscillates between haunting and hopeful, ultimately delivering a message of renewal and the profound impact of kindness in the face of adversity.

An Ode to Kindness

Original Submission by Narricka Longbridge

An Ode to Kindness

Narricka Longbridge

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No sane man would enter the wetlands, where spirits wandered, beasts roamed and demons lurked. Only a fool would dare venture into this forest while the moon was high, but Okobe was no fool.

She just wanted to die.

Seven moons ago, an old chamberpot maid was swallowed by a giant silk spider. Ten moons prior, a hunter was wounded fighting a seven headed snake and drowned himself there after. Now, a woman walked through this forest of death hoping to be another tale the wind carried.

Her wails left a trail that her bloodstained feet could not. Drenched in sorrow was every step towards the riverbank. Her swollen eyes did not want the moonlight to guide her path. With every scream she staggered, the blue tunic of her dress torn and loose. She was crying out for a deity that would not spare a glance. Okobe did not desire their help, but she wanted them to acknowledge her–acknowledge they cursed her happiness!

Just why did this need to happen again? She was losing count. She was losing count of the men that ran her away. She was losing track of the sleepless nights and the endless prayers to her ancestors' spirits. She was losing the locks of hair she ripped out each time she dug a grave.

Was it fair that each time she gave birth she was robbed of giving the child a name?

She fell to her knees once she smelled the water. Her cries were levied with the eerie sound that the wind wanted to display. It was like it had a mind of its own, orchestrating a symphony for her last miserable moment. She unwrapped the child from underneath her arms, laying still in the bloodied cloth.

She made up her mind the moment she saw the girl. Whether born to look like another man or no larger than a wine jar or a deformed creature, it was hers. The midwife tried to take the body from her, but she nearly slit her throat. She didn’t bother to wait for the father to return. She ran, she ran until she could not run anymore.

She wanted a monster to rip her to shreds or perhaps a spirit to possess her child’s body for a brief fantasy. She had survived this long, only troubled by unsavory critters and bone-chilling growls. So this river had to do. The pitch black waters would wash her pain away and send her back to her ancestors that brought her into a world that never welcomed her.

“I am so sorry.” Okobe whispered to the child, cold and gray in her arms. “I am so sorry that I was your mother.”

She sank her fingers into the body, using it as an anchor as she walked into the deep abyss. She shut her eyes as the murky water touched her feet. She heard the squirms under the surface and hoped for one of those creatures to pull her below. Perhaps in her last life she was a thief, a liar or a murderer–that was why she was cursed. In her next life she hoped to be those things again, so she could live selfishly and not desire heaven.

A tug on her leg and into the water she went.

There was no struggle, only anticipation, but then a voice danced on the cusp of her mind.

“Do you seek death mortal?”

I seek liberation.

“Death is liberation?”

It matters not to you what death is to me.

“Open your eyes.” It commanded.

Her eyes were pried open against her will and that voice was now coming from a ghastly white being.

“It matters to me,” it said, “every spirit that lives in the Wetlands belongs to me.”

Suddenly they were above water and Okobe was gasping for air holding her chest as her heart raced the river currents. She did not want to lay eyes on that alabaster creature again but as she looked down, she realized her child was not in her arms.

“Give her back to me!” She sprung to her feet but the being was barely moved. It was both an apparition and a statue, close enough to marvel but too far to reach. It held the child with much more care than she ever did.

“I have not seen this child. Where did she die?”

“That is not your concern.” She hissed.

“Were you not listening?”

“Why must I explain myself to belong to you?”

He laughed, “I only accept heinous souls who do not want to die. I do not accept you.”

His aura was more terrifying than any spirit Okobe could imagine. Spirits were both unfamiliar and familiar. They were both terrifying and friendly. His presence was like that of an ethereal yet daunting man who was pretending to wear skin. To fear it was human, but she did not fear it. She only feared the prospect of being told she had to continue to live like this.

She gulped, “Give her back to me, I will die elsewhere.”

Again he laughed, suddenly in the blink of an eye he was mere inches from her and she was backed against a tree. He stole her breath momentarily as every inch of his skin sparkled like the stars in the heaven’s sea. He looked at the child with those white eyes and kissed her flat forehead with his pronounced lips. Gently, he placed the baby in Okobe’s arms and said softly, “She will awake by sunrise and give you a reason to live.”

Speechless, Okobe watched the child’s skin begin to lose all of its color. Faintly, there were lines of blood pumping to the little one’s boney cheeks. She looked back at him as he extended his arm to wipe the fresh tear that was about to leave her eye. He let it balance on his finger while she watched in horrifying awe. He dangled it over the child’s mouth and once it fell on her tongue, Okobe could not believe her eyes.

The child swallowed.

She could not help but breakdown, breakdown into a pile of tears and snot. By sunrise he said, by sunrise her child would be back.

“Did the gods send you?” She sniffled through her tears.

He tilted his head, his fingers about to snap when he answered with a smile, “The gods do not care about mortal affairs.”

“Spirits can not bring back the dead.”

“Some spirits can.”

“Only demons….” She said with horror beneath her words. “I am no fool to make no deal with a demon but-”

“Ssh.” He held up his finger, her eyes focusing on it as if it was the center of the world. “Deals are not foreign to mortals as kindness is not foreign to demons.”

Before Okobe could react, that creature snapped his fingers and she was no longer in the wetlands.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating literary excellence worldwide. It offers writers an opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity across various genres, including poetry, short stories, essays, and more. The competition fosters a global community of writers, encouraging diverse voices and innovative storytelling. Participants are invited to share their unique perspectives and contribute to a rich tapestry of global narratives.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Narricka Longbridge for her compelling contribution, "An Ode to Kindness," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her storytelling captivates and inspires, leaving a lasting impression on readers. We look forward to witnessing her continued journey in the world of creative writing, where her narratives will undoubtedly touch many more hearts.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.