Lily's Light
The moment Lily opened her eyes, she was greeted by an enveloping darkness of her room. The pitter-patter sound of the raindrops on a tin roof added an eerie feeling that made her shiver in her cocoon of blankets. It wasn’t the unknown lurking in the dark that terrified Lily. Her fear was birthed from the persistent blackness that clouded her sight since birth. She was blind.
Despite Lily's blindness, her other senses were sharpened, acting as her guiding lights in the pervasive darkness. Her gifted sense of touch always found her way to her boundless world of books. Smartly placed beside her bed was her stack of braille books which she held dearly, her fingertips dancing on the pages, creating images beyond her physical blindness.
In a town called Tonsberg, where Lily lived, a folklore was continuously passed down. It stated that upon turning 18, a person is granted a single mysterious wish by the ancient 'Lady of the Lake'. But only if the heart truly desired it. As Lily turned 18, everyone in town anticipated her to wish for her sight to see the world's beauty. But Lily had a different wish.
On her 18th birthday, instead of wishing for sight, Lily asked the 'Lady of the Lake' to illuminate the life of the less fortunate. To make her wish come true, she started the 'Lily's Light' project. Her wish was to build a library accessible to everybody, regardless of physical disabilities, and to provide a great collector's hub, wherein books of different formats, including braille, audio, large print, can be found.
Lily's project gathered momentum quickly, and the idea of an inclusive library managed to touch many hearts to extend support. She conducted fundraisers, public speaking, and motivational seminars, despite her fear of public places. Her passion towards the mission was contagious, and she managed to collect enough funds by the end of the year. With the support of her family, friends and townfolk, 'Lily's Light Library' was born.
A significant part of Lily's motivation came from a man named Damian, who had lost his sight in an accident. Lily met Damian at a fundraiser. He shared similar interests with Lily, a love for books, and his courage and determination compelled Lily to keep pushing forward, igniting a spark of admiration in her heart. Damian's sightless world resonated with Lily, but it was the light in his soul, the light of hope, that connected them deeply.
Lily's Light library was a resounding success, leading to other towns implementing similar set-ups. Its popularity soared worldwide. Lily's Light no longer remained just a library, it became a symbol of equality, empathy, and the power of determination. Lily may have been blind, but she planted a visionary seed in society's heart.
On her 21st birthday, Lily stood beside the 'Lady of the Lake', feeling the cool breeze brushing her hair. She did not wish for sight, again. Instead, she thanked the Lady, not for the sightless eyes but for the insight-full heart. She thanked her for the darkness that led her to ignite the light called 'Lily's Light', lighting up not just her world but that of countless others.
In the story of Lily, we see that sight is not just the vision given by biological eyes, but it’s the mind's understanding, the heart's feeling, and the spirit's intangible perception. Sometimes, the darkness can lead us to the brightest lights, and sometimes, you don't need eyes to see. You need the soul.