Hide-and-Seek - By Gemma Kim

Written By: Gemma Kim

Category: Poetry/Personal Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Discover the evocative work of Gemma Kim titled "Hide-and-Seek," submitted under the Poetry category in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This piece intertwines the nostalgic essence of a childhood game with profound themes of escape and self-discovery. Within the lines, Kim invites readers on a journey of introspection, capturing the universal desire to find solace in disappearance.

About the Work

"Hide-and-Seek" by Gemma Kim is a poignant exploration of the game as a metaphor for life's deeper struggles. Through vivid imagery and reflective prose, Kim crafts a narrative that delves into the themes of liberation and the exhaustion of continual hiding. The mood is contemplative, shedding light on the bittersweet victory of remaining unseen and the eventual yearning for freedom from the confines of the self-imposed game.

Hide-and-Seek

Original Submission by Gemma Kim

I love hide and seek. If you are not familiar with this particular game, Hide and seek is a children's game. Essentially a game where people win by hiding in the tightest, most absurd places for the seeker to not discover them crouching in the corner. I have been a big fan since I was quite young. How appealing the concept of this game really. To be the last one left. Still crouching until the sensation leaves your legs. You hear, " Come out now, we are done. You won!" and you join your group once more, but this time with a victorious smile on your face.

Now I am about to do one last game. One where I won't return. Even if someone is screaming my name and they shout the game is over. They may beg and plead but I will disappear, and like the champion hide-and-seeker that I am, you won't be able to find me.

I will be liberated from the seeker's chase. No more crouching. No more hiding. Simply disappearing. Nothing more nothing less.

With one step out the door, I will become the myth you hear, a tale you tell to your children. With another step, I become the ghost of a name that only lives among frames. And by the time I look back, I have already ventured too far. The place I grew up in is the size of a dot and so are the people in it. Funny how looking from afar puts life in perspective. We are mere dots. Our brains are also dots. And I will slowly fade from you and your dot of a brain. One story at a time.

Sometimes trying to find the best hiding place allows you to find something even more valuable. Holding your breath enhances your chance at hiding. The dustier and more unique the hiding place is, the better. They wouldn't dare to dream someone would actually crawl into a spider's nest just to win. They are always wrong. A couple minutes of discomfort were absolutely tolerable for that sweet moment of victory.

I don't feel like holding my breath anymore. Maybe I am getting older. My lungs are not as it was before. I don't want to negotiate with a spider begging, "Please do not crawl over me, under me, just near in general," or slowly inhaling and exhaling dusty mattress air wondering whether this is what suffocation feels like. Some breathing room would have been nice. It’s kind of suffocating in utter darkness with a hole to continue breathing.

I am still there. A little more breathing room but the suffocation remains. You all seem to stare at me with confusion. "You have achieved what you wanted to do, you should be celebrating! You should be grateful for everything." You are absolutely right. I should

I feel grateful. All these privileges, as you would like to call them. The only difference now is I am too tired. Not lazy, simply too tired to get up, walk towards you and celebrate.

I have unfortunately outgrown my hiding spot. There have been a couple of those throughout the years. Some were places, some were not. The most recent one was a combination of both. It was only recently that I discovered I have not changed that much since those precious moments of the beloved game. The belief that I have finally achieved maturity shattered like glass. I'm sorry to say, each ‘growth’ just strengthened me to be a better hider. So let's play one last game. Hide and seek. You and me. Start counting. Count 20. No cheating. I hide.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a celebration of literary artistry, inviting voices from around the world to share their unique perspectives. This prestigious platform provides a space for poets and writers to showcase their talents, allowing their words to resonate with a global audience. Participants contribute their creativity and passion, enriching the literary landscape with diverse narratives and profound insights.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Gemma Kim for her captivating submission, "Hide-and-Seek," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Kim’s exploration of the familiar game as a metaphor for life's challenges offers readers a moment of introspection and connection. Thank you, Gemma, for sharing your voice and enriching the competition with your thoughtful work.

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.