Winner: Dulara Jayasekara

Category A: Secondary School (12 to 14 years) Winner (2024), Golden Tales Short Story Competition
Author: Dulara Jayasekara

When I think of you,

I envision greenery so vivid,

it feels like a painting

I see colorful cloth in patterns galore

and bare feet ruddy from the dirt

I feel the rough husks of coconut shells

scraping at my palms

I feel the wind whistling past me,

humid breeze tickling me as I swing higher and higher

I taste the sweet spices

of cardamom and cinnamon and nutmeg

I taste the sour, tart flavor

of unripened fruit, acid sharp on my tongue

I hear a laugh, hearty and hoarse

as my tongue tingles from chili and my eyes bulge dramatically

I smell the sweet smoke from the fire

curling up in my lungs like an ashy kitten and pawing at my throat

I see kind eyes crinkling like newspaper at the corners

twinkling with mirth and affection

I see the curls of gray

nestled between the dark strands of hair

I hear a language I cannot understand,

but I also hear laughter and tenderness, warmth and comfort

I feel callused, wrinkled skin,

cool against my cheeks, warm against my palms

I feel love.

I see love.

I taste love.

I hear love.

I smell love.

…I am loved.