Short Story
Hirunu has striking, expressive eyes—dark and wide, often reflecting the depth of her thoughts and unspoken emotions. Her eyebrows are naturally arched, giving her a subtly intense gaze that commands quiet attention. She has a delicate, heart-shaped face with smooth, warm-toned skin and high cheekbones that catch the light when she moves. Her lips are soft and full, often held in a thoughtful or unreadable expression. Long, jet-black hair frames her face, usually worn loose or tucked behind her ears. There’s a quiet elegance to her features, making her both mysterious and memorable to those who meet her.
Hirunu is a deeply introspective and resilient young woman, shaped by both a mysterious past and an unyielding desire to uncover the truth. At first glance, she appears quiet and reserved, often lost in thought, but beneath her calm exterior lies a mind constantly observing, questioning, and analyzing the world around her. After the sudden and unexplained death of her parents, Hirunu's life takes a dramatic turn, pushing her from a life of comfort into one of self-discovery, secrets, and survival.
One day, Hirunu strolled through the bustling city streets, her face expressionless as the world buzzed around her. The streets of Tokyo hummed with life—neon signs flickered, street vendors called out their specials, and laughter from groups of friends rang through the crisp evening air. Yet, amidst all the movement, Hirunu felt like a ghost. She had convinced herself that she was different—dreamless, unambitious, above the trivial pursuits of others. While her peers chased promotions, recognition, and adventure, she drifted, content with her anonymity.
Her friends often praised her simplicity, calling her an innocent girl." They admired her lack of material desires, her disinterest in the competitive rat race. Her colleagues pursued promotions, recognition, and adventure, but she was pleased with the anonymity. But one day, something deep inside her, a whisper, echoed. The whisper was a desire for applause, a desire that looks like a spotlight.
But she suppressed the whisper. Hirunu always hid her desire and pretended that she never had this desire. She wrapped herself in a cloak of false humility and clung to her innocent self-image. It was easy for her to pretend she wasn't worried about her fame or recognition, hoping she would never achieve. And she would watch from a distance. She noticed that everyone she once knew was reaching for the sky and the world was moving forward, while she remained in the same place—and this feeling placed an invisible weight on her chest. One night, she visited an art exhibition, invited by a childhood friend who had recently been recognized in the art world. The venue was breathtaking paintings coming out of the walls, sculptures in dramatic lighting, and the air was bustling with the energy of those who created themselves. However, Hirunu was invisible. No one was looking for her opinion, and no one recognized her. It was not a fit of jealousy that saddened her, but rather the feeling that she carried no value and being unworthy made her cry. When such thoughts struck her like a rumble of thunder, she got angry with herself and would be sunk in the ocean of darkness.
Hirunu, on that night, resolved to do something about it. That she would not let herself be in the dark. So, she first acknowledged the truth. She wanted to be recognized. She wanted to create something that needed attention, something that would make her proud of herself.
Then, she sat at a small wooden desk, opened an empty notebook, and began writing her story, "camping in the dark". She wrote about her fear, loneliness, and the lies she told herself. She wrote about the calm moments of longing, the hope that others felt when they shined, and the stifling weight of inexplicable ambitions. The words then flowed. As she wrote, she felt a flood of words breaking down the dam of self-negativity that had built up in her mind over the past few years.
She hesitated before sharing her first work. What happens if no one cares for it? What happens if my voice loses like another whisper in the noise of the world? But the fear of being invisible was greater than the fear of rejection. With her trembling hands, she sent her first piece of writing to an online writing platform. She did not get any recognition. She got sad over it. But then she realized that she had found her purpose. She wanted to write because it helped Hirunu understand herself better. She no longer cares for attention and recognition.
With all the words, she became brave, more confident. She experimented, refined, and studied emotions she had been suppressing for a long time. She grew slowly and rapidly. A girl who once was convinced that she had no dreams. She found a passion that helped her escape from her darkness. And all the words that floated in her mind made her realize that she had been given a gift. A gift of writing. Then, a memory struck her. A long time ago, someone dear to her said, "Hirunu, you should never stop writing. Dear, you have been blessed with a Gift".
Author: Hajira Umrani
Image taken by HajiraCreativity