The Light That Never Went Out

In a small village at the foot of the mountains lived a woman named Jasmine.

Every evening, as the sun disappeared, Jasmine lit a small lantern in her window.

When her neighbors asked why, she would smile and say, "Perhaps someone is walking in the darkness and needs a light."

Years passed. Jasmine lost her husband, her children moved to the distant city, and her home, once filled with laughter, grew quiet.

Yet every evening, she continued to light the lantern.

One night, a fierce storm swept through the village. The wind howled between the houses, rain struck the windows, and suddenly someone knocked at her door.

A young boy stood outside, soaked and trembling.

"I lost my way in the mountains," he said. "I saw your light from far away and followed it."

Jasmine welcomed him inside, wrapped him in a blanket, and served him warm soup.

When the storm finally calmed, the boy asked, "Aren't you afraid of living here alone?"

Jasmine was silent for a moment.

"Sometimes," she admitted. "There are evenings when loneliness feels so heavy that I almost forget the sound of another person's voice."

"Then why do you keep lighting the lantern every night?" he asked.

"Because someone might need it."

The boy looked at her for a long moment.

"But tonight," he said softly, "I think that light saved both of us."

Jasmine lifted her eyes.

And suddenly, she understood.

All these years, she had believed she was lighting the lantern for those outside. It had never occurred to her that its little flame was also keeping her own heart alive.

The next morning, as the boy prepared to leave, he embraced her.

"Thank you for leaving a light for me."

Jasmine smiled, tears filling her eyes.

"No, my child," she whispered. "Thank you for coming."

That evening, Jasmine lit the lantern once again.

But this time, standing by the window, she no longer felt she was waiting for someone.

She felt she belonged to something greater than herself.