Igniting Hope

She sat alone in a dark room and watched the firecrackers light up the night sky on a festive day. She recalled the day she was happy and engaged in such celebrations and festivities.

It was a national occasion. Happiness flooded every home. Fairy lights donned windows and doorways. There was music, laughter, and cheers all around. She hoped and prayed these smiles would last forever. She was high on life and felt happiness belonged to her as a child.

Now she drops a tear thinking she is still here. The festivities are here once again, but she is alone, living in silence, without a soul to share a smile.

She gets off her seat in rage. Walks to and fro trying to think what she can do to change this feeling. She looks through cupboards, drawers, and under the bed with the hope of finding something that would bring that cheer back into her life. She opens the refrigerator to look for some dessert that would lighten her spirits. She finds nothing. Nothing that can bring back her smiles on such a festive occasion.

She decides to prepare a meal. The meal is burned and not edible. Nothing seems to make her happy. She gets dressed with the thought of making it happen for herself. She would go out and find happiness, if she couldn’t find it at home, in that lonely dark house.

She walked the streets looking at smiling faces lighting up their lives with crackers and fairy lights and sweet treats. She hoped to share a smile with a passerby, but no one smiled back. They were too engrossed in their own life to notice a sad soul walk past them.

Suddenly, she noticed a poor girl sitting alone by the footpath smiling at the crackers lighting up the night sky. The poor girl watched her as she walked closer. The girl eagerly greeted her with a smile and she finally smiled for the first time in years. She found her happiness. She thanked the poor girl for her greetings and shared a hearty meal with her at a nearby restaurant. She realised in order for her to be happy, she needed to make someone else happy. Happiness is contagious.

That was her festive day. Sharing a smile with someone is a festive occasion. A single smile can be shared to make someone’s day special. Smile can ignite hope for a happier life!

© 2025 Marieannette Pereira-Fernandes. All Rights Reserved.

PC: Pixabay