The Lantern of Meera

In a quiet village nestled between dark woods and rolling fields, lived a small girl named Meera. At just nine years old, she had a heart as wide as the sky and a spirit brighter than the sun. Her days were simple — helping her mother bake bread, feeding the chickens, and weaving flowers into crowns for her friends. Laughter was her gift to the village, and her joy was their light.

One cold winter night, a fire broke out in the eastern fields. The dry winds carried the flames toward the cluster of homes. Panic seized the villagers; they rushed to gather their belongings, desperate to escape. But Meera saw what others didn’t — the fire was too fast. If they fled, many would not survive.

With trembling hands and fierce determination, Meera remembered the old river that wound behind the village. If she could guide the flames away, the others would have time to reach the water's edge. Without hesitation, she grabbed a lantern and raced toward the forest, waving it high. The fire, hungry for fuel, followed the flickering light.

She ran deep into the woods, leading the inferno away from the homes she loved. Smoke stung her eyes, and the heat clawed at her skin, but she pressed on. By the time the villagers realized what she had done, it was too late to save her.

When the flames finally died down, they found the scorched lantern lying near the river, its glass cracked but still glowing faintly, like her spirit.

Meera's sacrifice became a legend. Each spring, when the first wildflowers bloom, the villagers gather by the river to whisper thanks to the little girl whose courage saved them all — a small heart that gave everything for love.