For the Refreshers fair, we organised a little flash writing competition to help stretch your writing skills. The Refreshers Fair is a chance to refamiliarize yourself with the campus after the winter break and to get back into the swing of things. So what better way than a competition to engage those writing muscles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We asked those who attended the Refreshers Fair, and who saw our Instagram post, to write a poem and\/or a piece of flash fiction that included the word change<\/em>. We chose a winner for each category, and their work can be seen below. We enjoyed going through everyone’s responses and we thank you all for entering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So without further ado, congratulations to our two winners, Abdullah Parwaiz <\/strong>for poetry and Olivia K Cameron<\/strong> for flash fiction!<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Abdullah Parwaiz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As I glean at the orange hue<\/p>\n\n\n\n I see a world bygone<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagining my homeland cities<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wonder if it was ever this clear<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memories and hearts are though<\/p>\n\n\n\n Casting a light bright<\/p>\n\n\n\n My dreams and zoned out vision<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take me back<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every day the faces revisit<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gathered around<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the bustling voice of my beloved city<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our laughter<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blasphemy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mockery<\/p>\n\n\n\n Philosophy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Echoing<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making space<\/p>\n\n\n\n Will anything be the same again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unforgiving is time and its tide<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who will hear my cry<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drowning in its current<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must learn to swim along than against<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must learn<\/p>\n\n\n\n Must I learn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sip chai here and miss home<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think I will switch to coffee now\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Olivia K Cameron<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n She found him at the edge of the city, staring at the twin moons like they owed him something. He still wore his ceremonial jacket from the palace\u2014albeit half-unbuttoned, his hair a mess of golden defiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You’ve been avoiding me,” she said, stepping forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Not avoiding,” he replied, not looking at her. “I’ve just… changed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She crossed her arms. “A convenient word. A dangerous one.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, he faced her, and the intensity in his eyes nearly burned. “What if I told you the government is corrupt? That the Chancellor is a fraud? That everything we fought for means nothing?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She sighed. “Oh, here we go again. Another one of your \u2018the government is lying to us\u2019 theories.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It\u2019s not a theory! I saw the archives. The Chancellor plans to replace democracy with an army!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “And what, exactly, do you intend to do about it?” she challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His hands clenched into fists. “Stop him.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She arched an eyebrow. “By yourself? Let me guess, you\u2019ve been talking to that mysterious cloaked guy in the marketplace again? The one who \u2018totally isn\u2019t suspicious\u2019?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He hesitated. “He says he can help.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She groaned. “Of course he does. Next thing you know, he\u2019ll be offering you a cape and unlimited power.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n His silence spoke volumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Oh, stars, he already did, didn\u2019t he?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned away, shoulders tense. “You wouldn\u2019t understand.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Try me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He hesitated before whispering, “I don\u2019t want to be powerless anymore. I don\u2019t want to sit back and watch as everything crumbles. If I have to change to fix it, then so be it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stepped closer, voice softer. “I know you. You don’t want change. You want control. But control isn\u2019t love, and it won\u2019t save us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first time, uncertainty flickered across his face. “Then what will?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She smiled. “Us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He exhaled sharply, as if her answer was too simple, too bright. Then, finally, he laughed\u2014deep, genuine, free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You always have to win, don\u2019t you?” he said, taking her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Someone has to,” she teased, leading him back toward the city. “And if you ever even think about getting a dramatic cape, I\u2019m leaving you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Noted,” he grinned. “But what if it billows really well?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you again to everyone who entered our mini-competition, we really appreciate the engagement. We’re still looking forward to reading all your submissions for our print edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nEverything\/Nothing Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Edge of Power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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