Vibrancy - By Ava Rui Qing See

Written By: Ava Rui Qing See

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Ava Rui Qing See, writing under the name "Vibrancy," presents an evocative short story titled "Vibrancy" in the esteemed Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This short story delves into the intricate interplay between perception and transformation, inviting readers into a world where vibrancy is both elusive and transcendent. As part of the competition, Ava's work showcases the profound depth of narrative and emotional exploration, reflecting the diverse voices that the competition celebrates.

About the Work

"Vibrancy" is a compelling exploration of one individual's journey through a colorless world, seeking moments of vividness in a life marked by greys. The narrative employs rich imagery and emotional depth to portray the protagonist's internal struggle and ultimate awakening. The fleeting encounters with a ginger cat symbolize an elusive vibrancy that gradually unfolds into a transformative experience. The story artfully captures the tension between yearning for numbness and the desire for genuine feeling, leading to a powerful revelation about the essence of pain and beauty.

Vibrancy

Original Submission by Ava Rui Qing See

VIBRANCY

I looked out into the colourless world. It was bustling with energy as others moved animatedly, their motions flowing seamlessly, like pieces of puzzle falling into places’?). I felt like the odd piece that had no place in the world). The sky my eyes held captive were in greyscale, my whole world was. It was a hollow reflection of my dull emotions.

Since young, I had never seen the world in colour and it infuriated me at times, how others would chatter about the beauty of the world around them that I had never really been able to appreciate fully.

Although sometimes on a walk to the cafe I worked at, or simply a stroll near the cliff, hints of colours would dance at the edge of my vision, teasing its presence, allowing me to sense yet not be able to grasp the true vibrancy of the world around myself. Although they always quickly faded, little sparks that failed to burn, I still frantically held onto those fleeting moments, clutching them like the bottles of pills that I hid within my home.

One day however, I saw her for the first time. A ginger cat. Her fur glimmered with the most vibrant orange I’d ever seen, as though it might suddenly burst into flames and consume her. Turning her into nothing but a memory of mine. And I knew I had to find her. Bolting down the street, bumping into others in a frantic chase. But no matter how fast I ran, the crowd still swallowed her up. A feeling of desperation tore at my mind, an urgency I hadn’t felt for a long time piercing sharply into my consciousness. As I stood there, my eyes leaping through the crowd hoping to see a glint of orange, was only met with greys.

The days that followed were consumed by the memory of her, fiery orange fur lingering in my mind, vivid and unshakable. The image would burn brighter in my thoughts as the presence of my pills faded, rotting in the back of my mind. Whenever I left home, I’d pray I’d see her again. Sometimes I did, catching glimpses of her lithe figure dashing, or tucked away within a crowd, always so close but always just out of reach.

At times, the frustration was unbearable, my mind screaming in silence as I sat, clutching the pill bottle, my hands shaking. I couldn’t find any more, and the thought of running out of pills gnawed at me, my mind working in a frenzy. The bottle was empty, and the absence of the pills filled my mind with unwanted memories, moments and thoughts I had tried to suppress for so long. The hand of the clock swings so slowly as the seconds feel like hours, the dripping sound of water of the tap in the kitchen and the unwashed dishes. There is a rotten smell in the air as the garbage piles up in the corner like my cluttered mind.

They were like pieces of broken glass that I could not let go of. Even as the shards became messier and cut deeper into me, I still held on unwillingly as those fragments clawed. I could not see myself through the blood, the hatred and everything that poured out. I could shred my veins, tear open my ribcage and rip open my mind, and I would find those glittering pieces everywhere.

And only those pills could block it all out. They reduced the noise, the chaos into nothingness. Numbing feeling.

The silence could be endured.

Scrambling through my shelves, opening every drawer, there was nothing more than empty bottles, paperclips and various torn pages from a diary I’d lost a long time ago, though I could not find any more pills. My hands trembled as I reached for the final cabinet. Since childhood, I had always ate them, and there had never been a day where they were absent. I turned away when I saw it contained nothing more than dust, reaching for my coat and pushing open my door.

The stairs felt like a dizzying spiral as I leaned against the wall for support, my eyes squeezing shut as a low whine filled my mind. Thoughts and words eddied in the endless pool, overwhelming everything. I felt numb. The doctors had promised it would bring clarity, but their promises were meaningless. My world feels even more blurred now. Walking hurriedly towards the pharmacy, the pill bottle tight in my grasp. It felt so small and fragile within my grip yet it felt like my artificial lifeline, keeping me from shattering into fragments beyond repair.

I reached towards the door handle, my hand wrapping around the cold and harsh metal that seems to nip at my pale hands, I heard a meow. I glanced over, my heart beating with uncertainty. The ginger cat was watching me curiously, its piercing blue eyes drowning in mysteries and the untold. Her azure gaze was a perfect reflection of the vast ocean, I could get lost in them. I wasn’t even sure if I was breathing. It was as if she could see through me, through the void of my soul, that she could see straight into everything I had tried to hide. Her fur still burned as brightly as it had in my memories, the wind almost making it like a dancing flame as she tilted her head.

It was like being seen by something pure, untainted and unruined, someone who knew nothing but saw everything.

Being seen had never felt so lovely.

All at once, the desperation for the pills evaporated, as I reached for the cat. My hand briefly brushed her cheek, a blazing sensation piercing into my finger. I jerked backwards in pain, cradling my finger. Never had I felt pain this intense. A sense of betrayal bloomed through me. I had forgotten that even beauty could be dangerous.

She simply smiled at me, her face lighting up before walking over.

I flinched, every muscle and nerve begging me to run, to escape from the unknown and to return to what felt familiar. What felt safe, that comforted me rather than strike me with bolts of uncertainty or fear, to run from this heaviness that settled in my bones and rendered me immobile. I didn’t think that I wanted this. I wanted the numbness and the quiet. But she still

stepped closer. And closer.

I still chose to embrace her.

The flame bit at my face, clawed at my skin and hissed, spitting sparks that felt like meteors as they hit. I simply clung on tighter, holding onto this feeling, spectral rivulets of blood curling around my limbs, seemingly tying me to this pain. I welcomed it, the undiscovered secrets, the bursts of agony, this feeling that made me feel alive seemed like a much better reality than the emptiness I lived in for years.

And suddenly it was gone.

The almost overwhelming heat flickered into nothingness. The warmth leached away, consumed by the bitter frost. Desolation had never felt so clear and sharp in my mind.

I was afraid to open my eyes, afraid to live in this monotonous truth after feeling so alive. Yet I opened my eyes and this time

The world was vibrant.

The air had a dream-like quality to it, shimmering and glowing. The greys were gone, replaced by colours I could not name. It was real and it felt complete, as if the world had always been this beautiful and I had simply been too blind to see it. I stood there trembling under this divinity, fearing that if I blinked or moved, it might come crashing down and I might become nothing. But it stayed.

For the first time, I understood that without pain, there is no colour.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse literary talents from around the world. It provides a unique opportunity for writers to showcase their creative expressions and storytelling prowess. The competition highlights a wide spectrum of voices, offering participants the chance to engage with a global audience and contribute to the evolving landscape of contemporary literature.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ava Rui Qing See for sharing "Vibrancy" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Ava's narrative invites us to reflect on the complexities of perception and the transformative power of embracing life's vivid moments. Thank you, Ava, for your profound 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.