The Creative Non-fiction Corner

An illustration of a person running through the hall of an airport with a suitcase while wearing a backpack.

January 28

Tradition: Catching the flight

I have a tradition I keep for myself: catching flights between two lives.

Srijaa Chatterjee, Illustrations by Emilia Onar

An illustration of two silhouettes sitting under a Christmas tree through a window. The star on the top of the tree illuminates the room in yellow and the tree is decorated in red ornaments.

January 28

Tradition: Abbi and our dopey Christmas tree

School was out but winter break never felt lonely because we had each other: two peas in a pod, built-in best friends.

Erin Greenwood, Illustrations by Emilija Vītols Harrison

An illustration with a swirly orange and yellow backdrop. In the forefront are two sets of hands extending from either side of the frame. They are outlined in black. The pair on the right holds a bowl of stew and is handing it to the pair of hands on the left.

January 28

Tradition: Silent threads of home

There is a language only women speak — heard in the clatter of pots at dawn and in the simmering broth that carries the memory of old kitchens across oceans and years.

Syeda Sunehra, Illustrations by Abbie Lee

An illustration of a mother walking her daughter through a forest path. The mother looks over her should smiling down at her daughter while the daughter looks up in wonder.

November 13

Holding dear: If I should have a daughter

To my daughter.

Syeda Sunehra, Illustrations by Emilia Onar

Two friends jumping from a dock to a boat hand-in-hand with a stream of sunlight casted over them on an overcast evening.

November 8

Holding dear: Bermuda’s golden hour

Sometimes on those overcast evenings, my friend and I would skip across the harbour to her parents’ boat. Despite the rain, the sun made an appearance, peaking between the grey clouds and casting the waves in pink and sea-green with tips of orange-gold.

Stella Griffin, Illustrations by Adriel Yusgiantoro

A hand drawn illustration of a yellow sun rising above a small school. There are mountains and trees in the background and two stick figures in the foreground. The entire image has a dark blue overlay.

October 8

Genesis: First days

Beginnings were so structured once.

Shubhreet Dadrao, Illustrations by Abbie Lee

An illustration of molecules exploding in water.

October 8

Genesis: Silence and molecules

Today, I feel agnostic. / How do I know He exists?

Sayeh Oloumi, Illustrations by Ayla Cilliers

An illustration of colourful scribbles surrounding a black silhouette in the centre.

October 8

Genesis: The breakup is going fine, thanks for asking

I wanted desperately to fall into myself like girls in romantic comedies are allowed to, let my hair grow greasy and spoon Ben and Jerry’s into my mouth, openly sob to Norah Jones in the living room. But, most real life women don’t have the time to fall apart completely and cinematically.

Acadia Currah, Illustrations by Abbie Lee