ᝰ THE STORY Risna, 2 years old, has found a new companion—one so small, yet so full of life. A tiny chick, soft and fragile, held captive by her curiosity. For nearly an hour, the two played together in perfect harmony, laughter and tiny footsteps filling the air. Then, in an unexpected moment, she pulled the little creature close, wrapping it in the gentlest embrace. The chick, with nowhere to go, found itself locked within her delicate hands—held not out of force, but out of pure, childlike affection. This photograph, a testament to innocence and connection, was recognized by National Geographic Asia as a finalist for the theme Escape. Yet, what is escape if not the fleeting moments where the world outside disappears, where a child and a creature meet in pure, wordless understanding—drifting into something beyond reality? This is Escape—not just in the act of running, but in the quiet surrender to a moment untouched by time. In Risna’s embrace, the chick is neither lost nor found, only suspended in warmth, wonder, and the unspoken language between life itself. Perhaps, in the end, escape is not about leaving something behind—but about finding solace in the simplest of bonds, even between the smallest of hands and the most delicate of lives. 📍Tasikmalaya, Jawa Barat 🗓 2018
