Beneath the Silence - By Nailah Bhamjee

Written By: Nailah Bhamjee

Category: Personal(love and heartbreak)

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Nailah Bhamjee's submission, "Beneath the Silence," is a poignant piece in the Personal (love and heartbreak) category for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. It is a deeply reflective and emotional exploration of the complexities of love, longing, and heartbreak. Nailah's work expertly navigates the tumultuous emotions that accompany the absence of a beloved, evoking a profound sense of yearning and devotion.

About the Work

"Beneath the Silence" delves into the tender yet painful moments of love and separation. Nailah Bhamjee employs evocative imagery and a reflective tone to convey the deep ache of missing a loved one, capturing the essence of longing and the sacred nature of enduring love. The piece is a heartfelt meditation on the enduring impact of a profound connection, even in its absence.

Beneath the silence

Original Submission by Nailah Bhamjee

Sometimes, without warning, I find myself in tears

my heart aching in a way that feels almost physical when I think of you. Not because you wounded me,

but because you loved me so deeply

that I never imagined a world where I would have to live without it.

You gave me a happiness so full, so certain,

I mistook it for forever.

I never learned how to be sad with you

so I never learned how to survive after you.

There was no “after” in my mind.

Only us.

And now I stand here,

holding the fragile remains of my heart,

quietly begging the silence to answer me

to sound like your voice,

to tell me it will all be okay,

to promise me, the way you used to,

that everything will find its way back to us.

I ache for you in ways I cannot soften

a longing that settles into my bones,

that whispers your name in every quiet moment.

It feels as though the mere sound of you

could gather every shattered piece of me

and gently place it back where it belongs.

I became so accustomed to your presence

that I no longer remember who I was without you.

You live within me now

in every breath, every thought, every prayer.

And with what little hope remains,

I hold on… believing, still, that this love might find its way back home.

I would give up everything

every dream I have ever held

just to stand beside you again.

Your happiness has become something sacred to me, even when it costs me my own.

And somehow… impossibly…

I love you more now than I did before.

I wish this ache would loosen its grip on me. I wish the man who loved me so tenderly would return. I wish more than anything

that I had been enough for you to stay,

enough for you to choose us,

enough to be worth the fight.

The world may tell me otherwise,

but I still defend you in quiet ways

holding onto your intentions,

believing in the truth of who you were with me.

Because the man I fell in love with

would never have left me this broken,

this hollow, this undone.

So, I convince myself he is still there

somewhere beneath the silence,

beneath the distance. And I will wait.

Even if waiting slowly unravels me.

Because love, I have learned,

is both patience and pain

and when it comes to you, even the pain feels sacred… even the waiting feels like devotion.

Fi ammanillah.

~ Nala Bear

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices and creative expression from around the world. It invites participants to share their unique perspectives through poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing, fostering a global community of writers and artists.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nailah Bhamjee for her evocative piece, "Beneath the Silence," submitted for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work beautifully captures the delicate balance between love and heartbreak, resonating deeply with readers. We appreciate Nailah's contribution to this celebration of creative expression.

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.