Waiting In The Dark - By Katy Jones

Written By: Katy Jones

Category: short story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Katy Jones presents a poignant short story titled "Waiting In The Dark" in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. As part of the short story category, this piece delves into themes of identity and self-reflection. Katy's narrative invites readers into a shadowed world, exploring the depths of personal transformation set against an urban backdrop. Her work is a testament to the evocative power of storytelling, where every word is steeped in emotion and introspection.

About the Work

"Waiting In The Dark" is a powerful exploration of identity and change. Katy Jones employs vivid imagery and an introspective tone to portray a protagonist grappling with their sense of self and the stark realities of urban life. The story's mood is contemplative, filled with a sense of longing and introspection as it captures the essence of what it means to exist on the fringes. The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own identities and the shadows that accompany them.

waiting in the dark

Original Submission by Katy Jones

Waiting In The Dark

By Katy Zayde Jones

My body is 5% tiredly tense muscle, 5% brittle bones and 15% nerves, both electric and dying. That’s only 25% because I’m only half the girl I was yesterday, and that’s only 50% because she was half the woman I grew up wishing to be.

My spine, held together with rusting nuts and bolts, is a stem during draught. Hollow, dead, and trying it’s best to stay standing. Luckily, the concrete iceberg behind me tolerates my weight.

I count the blinks in the seconds, the seconds in my mind’s questions, and the questions in the minutes, as I wait. As I wait for a delivery. As I wait for a delivery, I’m not sure I want delivered.

I’ve never seen the stars. I don’t see the stars. There will never be stars to see in the city night. No, we have broken, flickering streetlights, protecting the innocents from what monsters lurk in the shadows.

Tonight I stand in the shadows. Watching scrawny children play in their ratty clothes on their dingy streets.

I did though, used to see the moon. It used to watch me study under the floodlight by my buildings crumbling steps. Watched me stand up to my childhood bully.

Childhood. When did it end? I don’t remember receiving an invite to its graduation ceremony. Don’t remember attending its farewell party. Don’t remember hugging it goodbye, starring in its warm, nostalgic eyes one last time and waving it off. I don’t remember agreeing to its sudden and cruel departure.

There is no moon tonight. Perhaps another warning. Perhaps, it too, is ashamed of what I have become.

Warmth. Strange. It trails down my index fingers. I did not realise I was digging trenches into my flesh with my dirty thumb nails. Odd. I start on the next.

A shadow drags his feet towards me.

(spoiler: it’s not Peter Pan here to save me)

He stops. Hurls his weight onto the carcass of a building behind me. Takes a long breath between his stained fingers and then releases smoke from his decaying lungs. He drops a crumpled, brown bag to the floor and shuffles away. I fall to my knees. Reach into the 3D wrinkle and cling to the orange cylinder inside. Jonathan Mathews. 42. That’s not my name or my age or even my gender. But that doesn’t matter because no one will ever care to know my name or my age or any other forgotten detail of my life again.

Theres no turning back. No second chance.

I am the thing fathers warn their sons about.

I am the thing mothers fear their daughters will become.

I am the monster in the shadows.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, celebrates diverse voices in literature. This prestigious event welcomes participants from around the world, providing a platform for poets and writers to showcase their creativity. With a focus on innovation and expression, the competition highlights the richness of contemporary storytelling, offering a glimpse into the ever-evolving landscape of literary arts.

We extend our gratitude to Katy Jones for sharing "Waiting In The Dark" with us as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your contribution to the short story category has enriched the competition with its depth and introspective narrative. Thank you, Katy, for allowing us to step into the shadows and explore the intricacies of identity and self-discovery through your compelling work.

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.