The Blue Harbinger (Esther)

In “The Blue Harbinger (Esther)” by Richard Rizat Kashung, we are drawn into the emotional depths of a man grappling with profound sorrow. His world is shattered as his wife leaves him, leaving him bedridden and struggling to accept this harsh reality. To cope, he weaves a tapestry of imaginative tales, attempting to rationalize and cope with the loss of his beloved. Within these self-spun hallucinations lies the haunting notion that a mountain spirit’s curse, incurred during a firewood-gathering expedition, foretells the loss of all he holds dear, ultimately leading to his demise. As the narrative unfolds, we traverse his psyche, witnessing a tumultuous dance between memories and metaphor, all intertwined with the indelible mark left by Esther—the woman he loved deeply. The story delves into his unwavering affection for her, the painful truths he must confront about her true nature, and the arduous journey towards rediscovering happiness amidst the wreckage of his existence.