The Cornfield - By Roxanne Chelin

Written By: Roxanne Chelin

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In a remarkable submission to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Roxanne Chelin, known by her writing name Layla, presents "The Cornfield." This short story is set against the backdrop of a familiar yet hauntingly different path, leading readers into an atmosphere filled with mystery and emotional depth. Through evocative prose, Chelin explores themes of love, loss, and the unexpected encounters that linger beyond the ordinary.

About the Work

"The Cornfield" delves into the transformative power of love and memory. With a rich tapestry of imagery and emotion, Roxanne Chelin crafts a narrative that is both haunting and beautiful. The story's mood shifts from an eerie tension to a poignant encounter, capturing the essence of longing and the supernatural. The imagery of a shadowy figure and a cornfield sets a vivid stage for the unfolding drama, inviting readers to explore the boundary between reality and the mystical.

Layla

Original Submission by Roxanne Chelin

The cornfield stretched before Layla: her heeled boots covered in mud, the golden stalks swaying in the late afternoon breeze. The hem of her dress skimmed the dirt path as she moved forwards. She had walked this way a hundred times before, but, today, something felt different. The air was thick with something unseen — something lurking.

And then she saw it.

A shadowed figure perched in the oak just beyond the cornfield, its long limbs wrapped around the branches like some unholy beast. Eyes, dark as the abyss, soft as molasses, gleamed as they watched her. Most people would have screamed, run, prayed.

She took a deep breath, taking a step closer.

Her breath hitched slightly, but not from fear. No, fear had left her the day John disappeared. Fear had no place in a heart already shattered by the loss of her love.

“I know what you are,” she said, tilting her head, a smirk on her lips despite the unease coiling in her chest, faking her bravery.

The creature blinked, intrigued.

“They say you can do... things.”

Layla pulled a small, tattered photograph from her pocket, smoothing her fingers over its worn edges. The image, though faded, was burnt into her memory — a young man with a playful smile, eyes full of warmth. John.

She looked up at the figure.

“They say you can become anything. Anyone.”

The being tilted its head, considering her. Its voice, when it spoke, was deep — and smooth like honey laced with venom.

“You’re a strange one,” it mused. “Most tremble in my presence. You…"

Its lips curled.

“You make requests. Quite charming — cute, actually,” he teased, a soft smile on his lips.

Layla crossed her arms.

“So, can you do it or not?”

The being chuckled, a sound both amused and unsettling.

“Very well.”

Bones shifted, shadows twisted, and, suddenly, where the creature had crouched, there stood a man.

Not just any man.

Layla’s breath caught in her throat. He was there. John was there. The same tousled hair, the same sharp jawline, his same beautiful eyes, the ones that had looked at her with love before fate had torn him away. Tears blurred her vision.

“It’s… it’s so real,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She reached out, cupping his cheek with trembling fingers.

Warm. Solid. Alive.

“Oh, John,” she breathed. “How I’ve missed him.”

He lifted his hand, pressing it over hers. A smile played across his lips.

“I’ve missed you too, Layla.”

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious event that invites writers from around the globe to showcase their talents and creativity. This competition celebrates the diversity of literary expression, offering a platform for both emerging and established writers to share their work with a wide audience.

Thank you, Roxanne Chelin, for sharing your captivating short story "The Cornfield" in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your narrative invites readers into a world where love transcends the ordinary, leaving a lasting impression on all who experience it. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to more of your creative endeavors.

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.