Contained - By Sabreen Hamayel

Written By: Sabreen Hamayel

Category: Flash Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Sabreen Hamayel brings a powerful narrative to life with her flash fiction piece, "Contained," submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. In this gripping category of Creative Writing, Hamayel delves into themes of control, power, and survival under oppressive circumstances. Her work captures the essence of human resilience and the struggle for voice against the backdrop of adversity, inviting readers to engage with its profound message.

About the Work

"Contained" vividly portrays the intense emotional and physical struggle of an individual facing oppressive force. Sabreen Hamayel crafts a narrative filled with tension and palpable imagery, illustrating the protagonist's fight to maintain control over their own voice. The mood is both urgent and reflective, with a focus on the inner fire that symbolizes resistance and the need for self-preservation. The story is a testament to the strength found in silence and the power of unyielding spirit.

Contained

Original Submission by Sabreen Hamayel

Contained

The sun bore down on me, sweat trickling down my neck. My skin screamed as the heat of the metal scorched the hairs of my beard. My face flattened against hot steel, my stomach jammed against the door frame, my back arching under his weight. Hands restrained behind me, gloved fingers curling around my wrists. I heard myself gasp, attempting to breathe through my mouth, inhaling sand. My heart thudded against my rib cage, faster and faster and faster.

My fingers grew numb as the blood drained from them. Gloved fingers pulled at my wrists, as if trying to tear my hands from my body. I felt hot breath against my ear, the faint smell of garlic turning my stomach.

“What’s your name?” A rough whisper echoed in my ear.

I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out. Muhammad’s face flashed through my vision. My friend. In prison. Detained because he simply lived. Threatened, attacked, silenced. All because he breathed. A hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head against the roof of the car.

“I ASKED WHAT’S YOUR NAME?” My head was swimming under the pressure of his hand.

“A-Ah…mad,” I whispered, my lips scraping the car roof as the taste of rust and iron filled my mouth.

“Well, Ahmad. Next time, you listen to my orders. You understand?”

The heat radiated off the hood, straight through my chest. But the real burn was inside—a fire taking root in every chamber of my heart, feeding on the metal taste of my own defeat. It was alive. Clawing its way up. I tried to smother it before it broke free. The fire became words—a retort. The words climbed my throat, scratching against the walls as they fought to escape. I sealed my lips, forcing the words back down.

The gloved hand yanked hard at my head until I could see its owner’s face. The face was young, free of wrinkles. Thick eyebrows and a bushy mustache were the only hair on his otherwise clean-shaven face. His nostrils flared. His mouth opened wide, spit dangling inches from my face.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?” The fire clawed at the back of my tongue, a swell of scorching words ready to spill. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing the heat back into my chest.

“Yes,” I choked out, pushing the fire further down.

“You think you’re smart, Ahmad?”

I shook my head with no hesitation. His eyes narrowed, his eyebrows furrowed. His face inched closer. The vein in his neck pulsed beneath his skin.

“Because you aren’t. But I’m merciful. I will let you get back into your car. You can go back home. Tell all your friends. Next time—and there will be a next time—I stop your car, you will obey.”

His fingers freed my hair, the skin where they pulled throbbing. I didn’t dare reach up to soothe the pain. He spat at my feet, turned around, and marched to the other side of the street, eyeing his next car. Others dressed like him stood near the next car over.

I quietly sat back in my car, closing the door as quickly as I could. I started the engine and sped out of the checkpoint. Only when I could no longer see the camouflaged soldiers in my rear-view mirror did I rub a hand over my head. I felt something sticky under my fingers. Wincing from the pain, I pulled my hand away and saw blood coating them.

Inside the air-conditioned car, my skin was still burning. The blood on my fingers was warm, but the fire inside wasn’t an explosion anymore. It was a furnace. I had to keep it stoked, but quiet. I could never let it out in front of the soldiers. Because the fire they would unleash would be tenfold worse. My family would feel the brunt of my brief resistance. My mother. My sisters. Left defenseless. I could handle the shoving. The beating. But I couldn’t let them silence me.

My voice is my power. But power without control is just a fire that burns the house down. I have to contain it. Keep it burning without letting it consume me.

Because if they silence my voice, they silence more than me.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform celebrating literary talent from around the world. This competition invites writers to showcase their creativity and storytelling prowess, engaging with diverse themes and narratives. Participants contribute to a global dialogue through their works, enriching the literary landscape with unique perspectives and innovative expressions.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sabreen Hamayel for her compelling contribution, "Contained," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work is a striking example of the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit. We are grateful for her participation and look forward to seeing how her voice continues to inspire and resonate with readers.

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.