The velvet-dark night sky appeared sprinkled with stars flickering like tiny candles far, far away. And below it, nestled in the valley between two hills, stood the quiet village of Greenwillows, where everyone was settling in for a peaceful night. However, in one cozy cottage, a girl named Maisie was still awake, in deep thought, gazing out of her window at the shimmering stars.
On her bedside was a small lantern – an old thing made of brass, with a handle worn smooth from years of use. Although it was a simple lantern owned previously by her grandmother, Gramms, as Maisie called her, had told her stories about it for as long as she could remember.
“Don’t ever underestimate this lantern,” Gramms used to say. “It’s special and holds the power to guide you when you’re lost, for as long as you trust its light.”
As a story, it was one of Maisie’s favorites, but the young girl wasn’t sure if she truly believed the lantern held magic. Tonight, nonetheless, she felt a strange pull to take it outside with her. The night was quiet, and something about the soft breeze made her feel restless, as if an adventure was waiting for her just beyond the door.
So, without overthinking it, Maisie grabbed the lantern and lit the small wick inside. She tiptoed out of the house, making sure not to make a noise to wake her parents up. The warm glow of the lantern flickered against the darkness as she stepped into the garden – the tall grass brushing her legs as she walked.
That night, the village was peaceful, “Quiet as usual,” she thought. Only the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl in the distance were Maisie’s company as she followed the narrow path leading her away from the village and toward her favourite spot: the little hill where you could see all of Greenwillows spread out below.
As she climbed, the breeze picked up, carrying with it the scent of pine and the faintest whisper of something unfamiliar. When she reached the top, she set the lantern down and sat cross-legged on the grass, gazing up at the full moon hanging low in the sky. It bathed the hillside in a silvery glow, making everything look dreamlike and still.
For a while, Maisie just sat there, feeling the calm wash over her. But then, something strange happened. The light from her lantern flickered, dimmed, and then brightened again—brighter than it ever had before. She stared at it, her heart quickening in surprise. And then she heard a soft voice.
“Why are you sitting alone, young one?”
Startled, Maisie looked around. There was no one nearby—just the moonlit landscape and her flickering lantern.
“Who… who said that?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I did,” the voice replied, gentle and calm. “Look up, child.”
Maisie lifted her eyes to the sky and gasped. The moon, bright and full, seemed closer than ever, and though it was just a distant sphere of light, she suddenly felt as if it were looking right at her.
“I’ve been watching you,” the moon said, its voice soft and wise. “Every night, you come here to think; to wonder; and to dream. But tonight, something is on your mind, isn’t it?”
Maisie’s heart raced, but the moon’s voice was so soothing that she found herself relaxing. “I just feel… lost,” she admitted quietly. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to be or do. It feels like everyone else knows exactly where they’re going, but I don’t.”
The moon’s light seemed to shimmer a little brighter. “Ah, the feeling of being lost,” it said. “Many have wandered in the darkness of uncertainty. But you, my dear, are not lost. You’re simply exploring.”
Maisie frowned, her fingers tracing the edge of the lantern’s handle. “But what if I never find my way?”
“You will,” the moon assured her, its voice a soothing balm to Maisie’s worries. “Everyone’s path is different, and it’s not about finding the way as fast as you can. It’s more about learning as you go. You see that lantern beside you? Its light is small, but it’s enough to guide your steps.”
Maisie looked down at the lantern, the warm light glowing steadily now. “But it’s not bright enough to show me everything at once,” she said.
“That’s true,” the moon agreed. “And that’s the point. Life doesn’t reveal itself all at once. The lantern gives you just enough light to see the next step ahead. And that’s all you need—just one step at a time.”
Maisie thought about this for a moment. The moon was right. The lantern’s soft glow didn’t flood the whole hill with light, but it showed her where to place her feet, how to keep moving forward.
“The same goes for you,” the moon continued.
“You may not know exactly where you’re headed, but with each step, you’re learning and growing. Trust your light, and trust yourself.”
Maisie smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. “I think I understand now,” she said. “I don’t need to have everything figured out. I just need to keep going and moving forward as much as I can see, and the rest of the path will keep unveiling itself for me.”
The moon’s voice softened even further: it was like a lullaby carried on the breeze. “That’s the spirit! Trust your guts and believe in your journey, no matter how uncertain it may seem. And always remember, even when the night is darkest, there is always light to guide you—whether it’s from a lantern, the stars, the moon, or your heart. In fact, you can only appreciate the light in the darkest of nights.”
Maisie sat in peaceful silence for a moment, the weight of her worries lifting. She felt lighter, calmer as if the answers had been with her all along.
“Thank you,” she whispered, looking up at the glowing moon. “I’ll remember that.”
“Good,” the moon replied, its light growing softer. “Now, it’s time to rest. Tomorrow is another step on your journey.”
Maisie nodded, and with the lantern in hand, she stood up and made her way back down the hill. The path, though dim, was clear enough with the lantern’s glow, and she felt no fear, no rush—just a quiet confidence in each step.
When she reached her cottage, she quietly slipped inside, placing the lantern back on the windowsill where it always sat. She changed into her pyjamas, climbed into bed, and pulled the soft blankets up to her chin.
As she lay there, her eyes grew heavy, and the moonlight filtered softly through the curtains. She thought about the lantern, about how even a small light could make all the difference in the dark. And as her eyelids drooped, she smiled to herself, feeling comforted by the quiet wisdom of the moon.
With a peaceful sigh, Maisie drifted off to sleep, her heart light, knowing that no matter where her path led, she had all the light she needed.
And outside, the moon watched over her, casting its gentle glow over the little house on the hill.
