The Epiphany of Pearls - By Nafeesah

Written By: Nafeesah

Category: Fantasy & Science Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In a captivating entry for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Nafeesah presents "The Epiphany of Pearls." This fantasy and science fiction piece delves into a mystical world filled with tales of the sea, ancient wars, and familial bonds. The author's rich storytelling invites readers into a realm where myth and reality intertwine, capturing the essence of longing and adventure in a narrative that promises to enchant and provoke thought.

About the Work

"The Epiphany of Pearls" unfolds in a world where legends of mermaids and sirens blur the lines between myth and reality. Nafeesah's narrative is steeped in evocative imagery and emotional depth, exploring themes of loss, memory, and the inexorable pull of the sea. The work is both a nostalgic homage to oral storytelling and a fresh exploration of fantasy, painting a vivid picture that resonates with timeless human emotions.

The Epiphany of Pearls

Original Submission by Nafeesah

Chapter 1

Long long ago, before the seas had their names and the mountains had their slopes, there was a Great War. This war ravaged the lands and spilled blood deep into the soil of the Earth, never forgotten, churning with the seeds and blooming flowers of anger, sorrow, and regret. My grandmother, Agatha, used to tell me that the flowers were a symbol to remember the war and to never forget the blood that was shed. She called it the Azurite flower. For the blue of its petals resembled the stone that shared its name.

I don’t remember my parents, they died when I was a babe. My grandmother says they were killed by the sea, swept away by her unforgiving waves. But then again, my grandmother was filled with superstitions and stories that made less sense than the whistling wind at night. With those superstitions, she forbade be from going near the sea, “it would carry me away like it did my parents”, as she would say whenever I ask. Another warning was to never sing outside of the cottage.

“The voice can be a bewitching weapon of great power, my dear. I can only protect you within the walls of our home. The sea will call to you like a long-forgotten memory, beckoning you to enter its depths. Do not listen to it.”

She told me this as we sat by the fire, brushing my hair, her voice filled with worry and sorrow. I could never quite understand what she meant by that and why she seemed to fear the sea. But I would also find her looking longingly at the water as if she craved the feel of its cold embrace like remembering a time in her youth.

Her words were warnings, blatant ones. However, that did not stop the feeling of home I felt whenever the smell of the salty sea breeze was in the air. The winds that swept the valleys of the kingdom, felt like a gentle caress as it brought the feel of the sea to the barrenness that our kingdom was at times forced under. The sea held stories and promises that made my heart yearn for a life I do not remember nor do I know. It’s secrets like a melody of enchanting flavor like a ripe apple in the summer heat.

Or maybe I yearn for the sea because it holds the corpses of my parents, the only reminders of my parentage swirling in the depths of crashing waves and the ever-lingering taste of salt. Or maybe I belong to the sea, like my pirate of a father, and his first mate, my mother.

The stories my grandmother tells me, features creatures of the sea, one of virtue and warmth, and the other of darkness and death. Both co-exist, one feels the kisses of the sun like blessings of the gods and the other, lurks in the depths of the sea, becoming one with the shadows as if its very existence remains a mystery for all who finds themselves brave enough to face them.

“Mermaids and sirens. Or that’s what those pirates called them. They’re the only ones that believed that they exist. Both creatures possess the beauty and essence of the sea. But to differentiate the one from the other would either lead to having a companion of the sea or to become another forgotten corpse for the sea to swallow.”

As enticing as those stories would be, they are nothing more than myths to scare the people on land and the children from following sailors and pirates into the seas. But I yearned for more than that. I yearned for something so inexplicable that it haunts my dreams and is forever ingrained in the very thing that makes me who I am.

(This part of a novel I’m currently writing and this is the first chapter.)

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is an esteemed platform celebrating the art of written expression. It brings together diverse voices from around the world, offering participants a unique opportunity to showcase their creativity and storytelling prowess. This competition continues to inspire, encouraging writers to explore new realms and push the boundaries of their imagination.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nafeesah for sharing "The Epiphany of Pearls" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your vivid storytelling and imaginative world-building have captured our imagination. We look forward to seeing the evolution of your narrative and are grateful for your contribution to this year's competition.

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.