March 2026 Flash Fiction Winners: Migration
MIGRATION FLASH FICTION WINNER
Mother’s Love
by Kerry-Ann Augustin
Malaysia
She rises before the sun does and rouses him with a gentle kiss on his forehead.
While bathing him, she hums a song her mother loved. She dresses him in a freshly-pressed uniform and combs his hair.
She tells him not to forget to wash his hands before wolfing down the sandwich she made and packed the night before.
Standing at the front gate, she waves at him as he boards the bus.
This is the child she is raising, but he is not her own.
It’s what she has to do so her own children, oceans away, can eat.
Kerry-Ann: “I’m a journalist who believes the quietest lives often hold the most powerful stories. This is my first foray into flash fiction.”
MIGRATION FLASH FICTION RUNNER-UP
From Fear to Freedom
by Moksha Devanti
Malaysia
*TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains references to domestic violence, child marriage, and abuse. Please read with care.
She turns the knob silently. Upstairs, he sleeps soundly. Tonight, he asked for a second serving, "Delicious," he said. 44 years of measuring footsteps, swallowing apologies she never owed. Learning to hide bruises with clothes and foundation. Which floorboards betrayed her. Which prayers seemed like silence. Her closet is still filled with her old clothes, but her luggage is filled with new, unsuspecting ones.
A friend's car awaits at a distance under the streetlight, ready to speed off to the airport.
She expects a shout, a hand grabbing her hair.
Nothing
For the first time in 44 years, Freedom.
Moksha: “I am a Dentist by profession, Tarot reader for fun, Classical dancer for leisure and a writer by conviction. A former pageant contestant turned advocate, I stepped away from the stage when I realized neutrality was not freedom. Pageantry required silence in the face of injustice to avoid controversies. My voice does not believe in silence.
Today, I channel my convictions through writing, advocating for animal rights, women’s rights, and the eradication of child marriage. Words are now my platform. Ink is my protest.
This story is inspired by my mother’s escape from an abusive marriage. My mother was married as a child at the age of 14, a trauma that shaped decades of fear and endurance. That early loss of agency kept her bound far longer than choice ever would. With our support, she finally escaped only a few years ago. Today, she lives peacefully overseas, legally protected in her new country after successfully fighting a court case that recognized the danger she fled from and granted her safety.
While the narrative depicts a smooth and calculated escape, the reality was far more complex and dangerous. Due to the 100-word competition limit, certain realities could not be fully explored.
My mother has given her full consent for this story to be written and submitted. My hope is that it resonates with and empowers women who may feel trapped in long-standing abusive marriages, reminding them that even after decades, freedom is still possible.
~
*From Words of a Feather: For safety and privacy reasons, this story has been published under the author's pen name. If this story stirred something in you, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust — a friend, a family member, or a professional who can help. You do not have to navigate it alone.
A note from our March guest judge, Awale Ahmed [@somalisoothsayer], on why he selected these pieces:
A Mother’s Love: “I loved the subtle plot twist at the end, which allowed the piece to land powerfully without overexplaining the mother’s situation. As a migrant who grew up in the Middle East, I deeply recognise these mothers who raise other people’s children while providing for their own across oceans. The piece beautifully captures their quiet love and the longing they carry, holding the tension between caring for others and the pain of leaving their own children behind to provide for them.”
From Fear to Freedom: “This was a very close second … it’s very courageous to migrate from fear to freedom and leave a lifelong toxic relationship after 44 years. To reclaim freedom and autonomy is so powerful.”
Congratulations, Kerry-Ann & Moksha! 🌟
Our monthly Flash Fiction Competition is free to enter, and writers of all ages, from anywhere in the world, are invited to submit! Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date.
