Little Inklings 2025

Emily Chen ’29 The woman smiled. “I know why you are here, Satoru,” she said. “You need this flower to save your ill mother. She is so close to death, and you have rushed to find the flower and hiked these first mountains.” I felt uneasy andmy stomach churned. She continued, “It seems you have met my husband.” She laughed before locking eyes with me, and I felt pure terror. Her face was wrinkled, with many deep scars etched deep across her eyes. Her lips were dark black and bruised. Her hair became greasy and dark. Her fingers were bony and they had no flesh. “You can’t have it, boy!” she shrieked. The witch waved her hands and chanted strange words in a language I do not know. The worldmelted. The stars fell. The sky bent. Everything was falling apart. I must reach her. I was on the ground, crawling, with the sky on my back, and I arrived at her feet. I grabbed her legs and pulled with great force. She tumbled down the mountain behind me. Everything stopped. I climbed down carefully and there she was, with the flower still intact and in her hair. Unmoving. Days later, I returned to my mother. She had passed. I cried and cried, but therewas nothing that could bring her back. 85