04/12/2024
The Lantern Keeper
As the year’s end approached, ln the village of Lumina, as they get prepared for its Festival of Light. This year, however, Mira, the young lantern keeper, felt an unfamiliar heaviness in her heart. Her duty was to climb the steep mountain and light the Great Beacon, a flame that guided travelers and symbolized hope. But after a year filled with losses and storms, the mountain seemed insurmountable.
“I can’t do it,” she muttered to herself, staring up at the dark, foreboding peak.
Just as she turned to walk away, an elderly traveler appeared. Her voice was calm yet firm. “Why do you hesitate?” she asked.
Mira sighed. “The path is too steep, and my strength is gone. What if I fail?”
The woman handed her a small lantern. “Light this, and let its flame guide you. Remember, strength lies in taking the first step.”
Clutching the lantern, Mira began the climb. The path was treacherous, the wind howling as if determined to extinguish her light. Doubts gnawed at her, but she pressed on. Suddenly, the lantern flickered, threatening to go out.
Panic surged. “Not now!” she whispered, shielding the flame with her hands. In that moment, she recalled the times she’d persevered repairing homes, comforting neighbors, standing firm when everything seemed lost.
With renewed determination, she reached the peak just as the first rays of dawn painted the sky. Mira lit the Great Beacon, its light bursting forth to illuminate the valley below.
As she descended, the elderly woman awaited her. “You doubted yourself, yet here you are. The journey to success is never easy, but the flame within you is stronger than any storm.”
Mira returned to the village, her heart lifted. Sharing her story, she told the crowd: “Never give up. The climb may be hard, but the light at the top is always worth it.”
Her words ignited hope in all who heard them, inspiring the village to face the new year with courage and determination.