The young mother stood on the edge of the group, her hands trembling as she watched the children dance. The orbs seemed to flicker softly around her, as though inviting her to join. She hesitated, glancing back at the other villagers who remained rooted in fear, their faces tense and uncertain.
Meera stepped forward, extending her hand. “You don’t have to understand everything right now,” she said gently. “Just take one step. Feel the light, and let it guide you.”
The mother took a deep breath and stepped closer. Slowly, she mirrored Meera’s movements, her hands lifting toward the sky, her body swaying in time with the children. The moment her fingers reached upward, one of the orbs drifted toward her, hovering just above her outstretched hands. A soft, golden glow surrounded her, and tears welled in her eyes.
“I feel…peace,” she whispered. “Like it’s washing away something I didn’t even know I was holding.”
The other villagers murmured among themselves, their fear beginning to crack under the weight of what they were witnessing. One by one, a few of them stepped forward, cautiously imitating the children’s flowing movements. The orbs responded, drifting closer and glowing brighter, as if encouraging them.
Meera smiled, her heart swelling with hope. “The light doesn’t judge,” she said to the group. “It doesn’t demand anything from us. It’s just waiting for us to remember it’s always been there.”
But not everyone was ready. The elder who had shouted earlier crossed his arms, his face dark with suspicion. “This is a trick,” he said. “It’s too easy. What do these lights want from us in return?”
Meera turned to him, her voice calm but firm. “Sometimes, the hardest thing is to believe in something good without looking for the catch. But the light asks for nothing. It only reflects what’s already within us.”
The elder didn’t respond, but his gaze lingered on the group as more villagers joined in the dance. The lake shimmered brighter than ever, the light spilling across the water like a living thread, weaving its way through the crowd. Those who moved with the lights began to laugh and cry, their fear dissolving into joy and connection.
As the night deepened, the group grew quieter, their movements slowing to a gentle stillness. The orbs hovered close, their glow soft and steady, as if they were listening. Meera looked around at the faces of her village—some still afraid, but many more filled with wonder—and felt a deep certainty settle in her heart.
“This is only the beginning,” she said softly. “The light will show us the way, one step at a time.”
