Writing: ‘the colors of the rainbow’ by Jessica Mauldin

This piece placed second for middle school writing submissions in the 2023 Ánimo Voices Writing and Art Competition, which invited students to respond to the open prompt “About Joy” The competition is an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing, spoken word, and art.

the colors of the rainbow

He lived in a world of black and white.
His skin was a shade of gray and his eyes a light gray.
People all around him said that they see the colors of the rainbow.
They ask, “Isn’t the rainbow beautiful? After the storm, it gives us joy,”
But he had never seen a rainbow.
He never knew the color of a flame. He never knew that flame had a color besides white.
He was blank.
He didn’t know of color.
He didn’t know of emotions.
He was empty.
So, his name was Hollow.
One day, while walking across the street, Hollow saw a woman.
She too looked blank.
So Hollow walked up to the woman and asked her name.
She was Void.
Hollow asked if she could see in color.
Void could see
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
And violet.
Hollow didn’t know what those were.
Void taught him how to name the white and black.
One day, Hollow didn’t feel as hollow.
When Void told him about his heart, and what color that was, he felt a warm stirring where she put her hand.
On the left side of his chest.
Hollow gasped as tears sprang to his eyes.
His heart felt hot, beating more powerfully than it had ever felt before.
Slowly, he could see the world in
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
And violet.
“Void,”
“Hollow?”

“I don’t feel Hollow anymore,”
“Oh, Hollow!”
“I feel quite full... in my heart.”
“...”
Hollow paused, then his lips stretched into a smile and his eyes twinkled with happiness.
Void suddenly rushed forward and pressed her lips onto his.
Hollow wrapped his arms around her.
They spun and laughed and danced, for they weren’t empty, half empty, or half full.
Love prevailed in the end, and that day, Hollow and Void turned into Jubilation and Euphoria.

Jessica Mauldin

 

 

Jessica Mauldin

8th Grade, Ánimo Legacy Charter Middle School