How art can connect us in unexpected ways

A sashiko story (fictional short story )

Sam wandered around the streets, not knowing exactly where they were. It felt obvious to them that people could tell they were not from around here but that was fine. Something caught their eye, a small alley on the corner of the street they were strolling down. The alley was narrow with a cobblestone footpath and dozens of passion flowers adorning one side of a wall, framed by thick green foliage. Sam ventured in and looked up. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a single candy-floss cloud like the ones they’d seen in the morning. Their gaze stopped at an old metallic sign with a needle and thread painted on it, swinging gently in the breeze. Sam walked along the alley with a firm pace, as if they knew exactly where they were going this time.

The entrance of the shop invited them into a boudoir-like space, warm and intimate. The cosiness they felt was immediate when they pushed the door, hearing a tiny bell. A person stood behind a well-polished wooden counter, their hands busy sorti…