The Lone Wanderer - By Loh Sweet Ee

Written By: Loh Sweet Ee

Category: Flash Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Loh Sweet Ee, writing under the name "The Lone Wanderer," presents a moving piece of flash fiction titled "The Lone Wanderer." As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this narrative delves into themes of memory, solitude, and the human journey through life's emotional landscapes. The story invites readers into a world where memories fade like snowflakes, leaving behind the profound question of what remains to tether us to life.

About the Work

"The Lone Wanderer" offers a haunting exploration of memory and identity, capturing the tension between forgetting and recalling life's most poignant moments. The piece is rich in imagery, depicting a desolate winter landscape that mirrors an inner void. The protagonist's journey is both literal and metaphorical, reflecting the universal struggle between holding onto memories and seeking release from their pain. This elegantly rendered narrative invites readers to ponder the cost of forgetting and the enduring quest for meaning.

The Lone Wanderer

Original Submission by Loh Sweet Ee

The Lone Wanderer

What do I have left to continue living in this empty world?

If the memories of a bee reset every 2.5 seconds, will it attempt to recall what has been forgotten?

It was eight days until the end of the year.

Snowflakes drifted gently from the starlit sky, settling on every surface, blanketing them in white.

The town was celebrating the annual festival happening the next day as the snow joined in.

Joyous laughter and music escaped into the winter air through the gaps in windows, warming up every frozen corner.

Amidst the festive atmosphere, where every soul, even those without a family, had found a place to return to, a man was wandering aimlessly through the empty streets.

He wore a set of dark shirt and slacks, with a matching overcoat that hung from his thin frame, but all were too worn out to provide any comfort in the freezing winter.

Even so, the man strode forward, his hands shoved in his coat pockets, shoulders squared, and back straight, towards a destination that even he himself did not know.

He did not know why he was wandering in the streets on this day, when the snow had started to fall and when the weather was demanding him to stay in the comfort of his house with the fireplace lit.

His mind had told him to go out, to leave his house. Without him realising, his legs had brought him through different paths, further and further away from the too-empty house he now lived in.

Deep in his mind, he felt a tingling that he used to walk these paths on this day, and there were a few others together with him.

He was smiling, he believed, while holding a hand much smaller than his and looking fondly at a child skipping in the snow ahead of them.

But when he removed his hand from his pocket and instinctively curled his fingers, all he caught was a wisp of cold air, and when he turned his gaze forward, there was only the ghost of a silhouette, which disappeared immediately, revealing the snow-covered path he was following.

He did not know if this was true, for he had deliberately forgotten everything related to the past that he now did not dare and failed to recall.

He knew very well how he could have forgotten everything, for he had mastered the technique of organising one’s memories. He believed he must have removed the memories so as not to drown in grief.

But it was not an easy task, even for the man. The first time when he had forgotten, he was terrified by the void in his memories, so he forced himself to look at the items to bring back his memories.

When he recalled the memories, it was all too tormenting for him, that he chose to forget again.

That was not all he had done. The man was in a loop of forgetting and remembering. Each time when forgetting was too frightening, he chose to remember; when remembering was too painful, he chose to forget.

Even for someone like him, who had mastered the memory techniques, he was unaware that each time he attempted to forget and remember, a small part of the memory would fade away, eventually leaving behind a void impossible to fill.

Along with that memory of his most treasured ones, everything anchoring him to this world was gone.

To him, he had nothing left to look forward to tomorrow.

Even so, he continued living with the void within him until this day, when his legs brought him out of his empty house and into the deserted streets where laughter and music still lingered in the air.

The man continued striding forward until he reached the shoreline where water meets the land.

He stood still for a moment, staring out into the horizon, waiting for someone, for something to stop him from taking another step forward.

But there was no one beside him, there was nothing holding him back.

He could no longer hear the voice that had been telling him to keep living, for he had forgotten even that.

Taking a deep breath, the man brought his right foot forward, taking his first step into the dark waters.

That was all it took for him to continue his walk. Without blinking, the man strode into the sea, allowing the frigid water to embrace him, until his feet could no longer touch the ground, until he could no longer feel, until his consciousness faded away.

The man continued his walk into the dark abyss, so that he could no longer feel the void consuming him, finally free from the sorrow whose origin he no longer knew.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that showcases diverse voices and creative talents from around the world. Participants explore various themes through poetry, short stories, essays, and flash fiction, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary literature. This competition serves as a platform for writers to share their unique perspectives and engage with a global audience.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Loh Sweet Ee for sharing "The Lone Wanderer" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This compelling narrative offers a resonant exploration of memory and loss. We are grateful for your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your evocative work in the future.

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.