A short story is a reminder that while human life is finite, our thoughts can still traverse the universe in a few moments or less.
The greatest challenge a writer faces is the limitation of time. A writer is a thousand or million-year-old being, held captive in a young body that is subject to gravity. The body of a writer is a shell inside which the soul resides. It is only a matter of time before the body reaches its expiration. Yet, the soul of the writer—curious and hungry for knowledge—goes on.
A short story is the reflection of a writer’s ability to express the complexity of human life and thoughts in a few pages. It is a testament of the power of words.
The willpower of a writer never retires. A writer’s love for words never fades. A short story is a product of that willpower and love–unrestricted and limitless. It is a force that cannot be contained but can only be experienced.
A short story, as some believe, leaves a reader feeling thirsty. A short story, as I conclude, ignites a reader’s intellectual passions without providing any satisfaction.
We read short stories because of their destructive and constructive nature. A short story might demolish the tower of thoughts that we built over many years and encourage us to erect a new structure with new revelations. It might also reinforce the long-held principles we have and destroy any doubts that might have cropped up in our minds.
A short story might start as abruptly as it might end, which is no different from the many circumstances we come across in life. Life is, after all, full of surprises, shocks, and uncertainties.
A short story reflects humanity, thriving in this endless universe that we call home. It is the story of our thoughts, our feelings, and our journey.