Akhil Yerrapally’s “Foxtrot” deals with the fragility of human life and the feelings that come with dealing with a loss, as stated by the author himself in an email interview. He was inspired to write the short story by a recent loss in his family. Writing is what allowed him to express the emotions of isolation and uncertainty he felt during this time. From an artistic perspective, he was inspired by films such as “Apocalypse Now” and “Manhunter”, which also dealt with such topics through their environments and characters.
Yerrapally’s intention for writing “Foxtrot” was to use it as an outlet for conveying the interconnections of loneliness, the angst of youth, the exploration of the vulnerability of life, and the primal sources of nature and death. Yerrapally states he wanted to “grapple with these existential themes and perhaps also help others understand and think about the ideas and philosophies.”
According to the author, his short story doesn’t have a specified target audience because he believes “Foxtrot” could connect with anyone regardless of their background as a “timeless, expansive piece” where anyone can relate to the ideas shown. Regardless, if there were to be an audience that would feel the most connected, Yerrapally suggests it would be people like him who in the digital world, experience sentiments of remoteness and melancholy, especially during the global quarantine of 2020.
“To the readers, I hope you enjoy ‘Foxtrot,’ and I hope it sparks some thought or discussion with others. As an artist and a writer, the biggest, most valuable gesture I can receive is if you find something valuable in my work. Thank you for reading it, and I hope you have a wonderful time with the piece.” – Yerrapally, 2023.
Link to “Foxtrot”: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1daG-LtMP5b2x7Lo0TGms4F7hiQ7e24G9ekdd2sjQvQQ
