The Place Where Sound Came Alive

The Place Where Sound Came Alive is an award-winning microfiction story by Emma Needell that placed first in the NYC Midnight Microfiction Challenge. The story follows eight-year-old Darlene, a deaf girl who experiences the world of sound through vibrations in her father’s radio station—until the day a catastrophic event changes everything. Told with emotional precision and vivid sensory detail, the piece explores grief, connection, and the tactile power of sound.

The NYC Midnight Microfiction Challenge is an international competition that tasks writers with crafting compelling stories of 250 words or fewer, all under tight deadlines and with surprise prompts. Emma’s story was selected from thousands of submissions for its originality, emotional impact, and lyrical depth.