Cats Smoked the Souls of the Dead - By Chris Dino Belacho

Written By: Chris Dino Belacho

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Chris Dino Belacho presents a thought-provoking short story, "Cats Smoked the Souls of the Dead," as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This evocative piece delves into the themes of loss, memory, and the complex web of human relationships. Belacho's narrative captures the delicate balance between past and present, inviting readers to reflect on the transient nature of human connections.

About the Work

Belacho's short story crafts a poignant exploration of relationships and the myths surrounding them. With a skillful blend of nostalgia and introspection, the work evokes a sense of melancholy and wonder. The vivid imagery of funerals, fleeting encounters, and age-old beliefs about cats enriches the narrative, inviting the reader into a world where personal history and cultural lore intertwine.

Cats Smoked the Souls of the Dead

Original Submission by Chris Dino Belacho

Cats Smoked the Souls of the Dead

by Chris Dino Belacho

He saw her at the funeral-handing out cold tetra packs of juice, repacked green peas, and peanuts to the guests. His relationship with this woman was as dead as the man lying in the pine casket by the electric candles. He thought about saying hi, but hesitated, feeling it was inappropriate. It wasn’t the place or the time to rekindle old romantic acquaintances, even though all he wanted was to ask her one or two questions. It was a cool, damp night, close to midnight, and navigating through the crowd was difficult. She was wearing a comfortable-looking knitted cardigan over a strapped blue top, a pair of her favorite square pants, and worn-out sneakers.

When he was young, he had been made to believe that funerals were big farewell parties every time a relative died.

“And that cats feed on the crematorium smoke-that’s why they have many lives,” his uncles would tease the kids, and he often wondered if his father had suffered the same fate when he passed away.

He thought about what had happened between them. There was that thing she once told him, turning the other way as she sat in the passenger seat. It was all a blur now, but he remembered clearly the steady hum of the car engine while she spoke. But he wasn’t worried-she still had the seatbelt on.

What could have been said more often was reduced to mere incidentals, and what should have been felt as natural eventually became a matter of opinion. A cause and a consequential effect, to put it simply. In the movie Interstate 60, James Marsden was told that relationships are the reactions to the previous ones we had. It wasn’t the main point of the plot, but that was the message that stuck.

The night they last spoke, she left in his sleep without saying goodbye. He always thought she’d come back for her things, but she never did.

“I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought I was seeing the wrong ghost.”

She chuckled softly. By this point, most of the guests had left.

“I was surprised to see you here.”

The sky was filled with stars, with only a few thin sheets of clouds scudding across-it was such a good night for a long drive to the coast, which was what he truly wanted to say.

“It was such a beautiful service,” he said after a while.

“I’m just glad it was over, peaceful. You know?” she replied without looking at him.

A week later, he was at the door in front of the house, feeding a stray cat milk and corn-flavored cereal. Then it hit him: cats didn’t feed on the souls of the dead. They ripped them apart until they were completely gone.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, organized by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform celebrating the diverse voices of writers worldwide. This competition seeks to uncover and honor the originality and creativity of participants across various literary categories, including poetry, short stories, and essays.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chris Dino Belacho for his moving submission, "Cats Smoked the Souls of the Dead." It is a testament to his talent and ability to evoke deep emotions through storytelling. We are honored to feature his work in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026.

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.