True Love - By Zane van der Linde

Written By: Zane van der Linde

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative short story "True Love," Zane van der Linde delves into the complexity of love and the sacrifices it demands. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece offers a profound exploration of what it means to love deeply, and the personal cost it often entails. Through a narrative rich in emotion and introspection, Zane invites readers to reflect on the universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

About the Work

"True Love" resonates with a contemplative tone, exploring the paradox of love as both a beautiful and destructive force. Zane van der Linde weaves a narrative that examines love's ability to test and teach us, emphasizing the lessons learned through sacrifice. The story's imagery captures the essence of longing and the bittersweet nature of true affection, inviting readers to ponder the true meaning behind their own relationships.

True Love

Original Submission by Zane van der Linde

True Love

To love someone is a sacrifice, one we all make without knowing what that sacrifice is.

One might love someone so deeply they forget to love themselves. The sacrifices we make to see them, to be with them, it slowly grows so dangerously much, that we start to sacrifice pieces of ourselves each day just to e with that person. We walk through hell for that person an we have no idea of knowing if our sacrifice is worth it. But that’s just the point, to love someone means everything we do each day to be alive is worth it.

True love doesn’t often last forever, instead it lasts long enough to test you and show you what it really means to love. True love does not mean to wake up to that person next to you, but to wake up alone in the middle of the night and that person is your first thought and the love you feel when you look up at the stars and they are all you can think about.

True love adds up every small act and every word said to a sum of meaning. It is then when that person finally realizes everything you sacrificed was all for them, even if it is too late. Everything you sacrificed in the end is not always a loss, but a lesson, a lesson that teaches you what it truly means to wake up with that person and without them.

Love is without a doubt a weapon of mass destruction to one-self, but love can be beautiful. It is impossible to find the words to describe how much a person can mean to you and that goes to say, that love is not just for a partner, but for friends, family, animals or even hobby or lifestyle. Love is literally the universal reason all of us wake up to a new day and our reason to live.

Some of us aren’t so lucky though, some of us don’t have much to wake up to other then “Just another day” as I like to call it. Some of us sacrificed so much and all we were left with were lonely nights and reasons to cope,not reasons to live. And it can be hard or even feel impossible but to keep fighting means we will experience that love again, but this time with the lesson it taught us and the fear of losing it all again.

Don’t let fear stop you from finding what belongs to you, love is beautiful and life is precious. There is no magic stronger than love and love is the universes way of showing us the beauty of its creation.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literary arts. Writers from around the world contribute their unique perspectives, enriching the global dialogue on creativity and storytelling. The competition fosters an environment of inspiration and expression, showcasing a wide array of talents and themes.

Thank you, Zane van der Linde, for sharing "True Love" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your insightful examination of love’s sacrifices and lessons has left a lasting impression. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your thoughtful and engaging 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.