Eight Years - By Suwaibah Abdulkadir

Written By: Suwaibah Abdulkadir

Category: short story / romance and drama

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her poignant short story "Eight Years," Suwaibah Abdulkadir captures the emotional essence of romance and drama. As a participant in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, her narrative delves into the depths of love and loss. Abdulkadir's work invites readers to reflect on the complex journey of the heart, the passage of time, and the haunting echoes of memory.

About the Work

"Eight Years" is a beautifully layered narrative that explores themes of love, memory, and grief. Abdulkadir's evocative imagery and emotional depth create a touching story that resonates with the reader. The piece artfully captures the tumultuous emotions of longing and the struggle to distinguish between reality and the heart's desires.

Eight Years

Original Submission by Suwaibah Abdulkadir

‘Eight Years’

-Suwaibah Abdulkadir

Another evening spent curled up at the windowsill with a hot cup of karak in my hand, the spicy-sweet scent riding on thin, curling wisps of steam that make their way into my nose but doing little to soothe my aching heart. A sigh escapes me as I stare blankly at the grey thick clouds that suffocate the sun in the sky, crying heavy and salty tears onto the faultless ground of the Earth in some sort of unspoken grief, mirroring my inner turmoil.

Lord knows how long I’ve been sitting in this position, watching drop after drop race down the window to the invisible finish line at the windowsill where they inevitably join a puddle; that is until I heard the familiar chime rattling at the stubborn keyhole of our – my - mahogany front door. He’s home.

My lips twitch upwards and curl into a shy ghost of a smile as a warm blanket of familiar comfort wraps around me. I stand and set my pink ceramic cup next to the vintage vase of lilies that he got me as an eighth anniversary present; except it hasn’t been eight years since we married. No? We haven’t? Then what was it? ill ask him.

A hurry my legs down the never-ending foyer. It stretched on, and on, and on and I keep running. I’m still chasing the door that is sliding further away from me when suddenly a jolt of lightning is shooting up my calves and settling on my knees, making them buckle and give out under my weight. A scream rips from the depths of my chest into open air at the terror of never seeing my beloved again.

‘Naina, NAINA-!’ the incessant voice calls out at me. Is she what’s coming between us? My vision clears of its haze and I all I saw is white. White walls, white bed, white ceiling. No lilies. A lady, vaguely familiar to me, was gripping onto my shoulders barking orders at some other people rushing into the room with mortified faces. Soon after which I felt a pinch on my arm and an ice-cold chill freezes my veins, muting my throat of its screaming. A comforting darkness covers my vision and I feel myself float into a blissful space.

‘It’s been eight years since her husbands passing,’ I hear voices from the other room as I come back to my conscious, ‘her condition has only gotten worse, doctor. It is only sensible to transfer her to better care’. Those are the last words I hear as I float back to nothingness.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in poetry and creative writing. This international event brings together writers from around the world, showcasing the power of words to inspire and connect.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Suwaibah Abdulkadir for her touching contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her short story "Eight Years" offers a profound glimpse into the human experience, and we are grateful for her participation.

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.