Mary and the girl in green walked silently through the heart of the forest. The crunch of dry leaves under their feet broke the stillness around them with every step. The air had turned cooler, and the darkness hung like a thick curtain, wrapping the woods in mystery. Mary, her face showing signs of fatigue, finally broke the silence:
Mary: Do you think all this walking and trying is really worth it? What if we're lost? We don't even know where we're going...
Girl in Green: Trust me, it's worth it. You're not alone—I'm with you. When you keep trying, even if the path isn't clear, the world slowly shows you the way. You've heard that saying, right? That when you take the first step, all the particles of the universe align to help you take the next ones?
Mary paused. Her eyes were filled with doubt, yet deep inside, a faint glimmer of hope still remained.
Mary: I hope you're right... I really want to keep going, but there's always this little voice inside me that says maybe it's all for nothing.
Girl in Green: When that doubt shows up, imagine the outcome you want. See it, feel it. That image gives you energy—it helps your mind find ways to make it real.
Mary: Imagining... I don't know. It doesn't feel real to me.
Girl in Green: Maybe not now. But just try. Over time, that image can turn into belief.
Mary nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to picture a brighter future in the midst of the darkness.
At that very moment, a soft light appeared above their heads. At first, it was just one glowing dot, but soon, more and more lights began to appear. Mary stared at them in wonder.
Mary: These lights… where are they coming from?
The girl in green looked up and smiled.
Girl in Green: They're fireflies. They usually show up when the darkness is at its deepest.
Mary: They're so beautiful... It's like they're lighting up the path for us.
Mary, still watching the fireflies, whispered to herself:
Mary: My grandma used to say that good people in life are like fireflies—quiet and gentle, but they light your way.
Girl in Green: Your grandma was absolutely right...
Mary looked at her, surprised.
Mary: You heard that?
Girl in Green: Yeah, why?
Mary: I thought I said it really softly.
The two continued down the path the fireflies had lit, quietly walking side by side. In the heart of darkness, a spark of hope had been reignited by those tiny glowing lights...