The Lantern
In a quiet village wrapped in misty hills, there was an old lighthouse that hadn’t seen the sea in decades. The ocean had retreated, but the lighthouse keeper—an old man named Younes—still lit the lantern every evening. People asked him, “Why keep the light on? There are no ships anymore.” He’d smile and reply, “Not all lost things are ships.” One rainy night, a small boy from the village, feeling overwhelmed and invisible, wandered through the hills. The storm grew fierce, and he lost his way. But in the distance, he saw a soft golden glow. It was the old lighthouse. When he reached it, Younes opened the door without a word, handed him warm tea, and let him sit by the fire. The boy didn’t need to explain. Younes just said, “Sometimes, all we need is to see a light still shining.” From that night on, the boy often visited. The lantern kept glowing—not for ships, but for hearts adrift. — End
