The Oil Lamp

The room, her world, was closing in on her before her eyes. She'd blink, and for a split second hold on to the hope that her lifting lids reveal an alternate world. But it remained the same.

Alone in that room, she spent her darkest days. One dark room, one door. 

That door. She knew, if ever light existed, the four seams through which light beamed was her proof. 

But not her only proof, for she was not alone in that room.

Her world had evolved over time from all that she once knew, to those 4 walls and 1 door. 

That door. Her proof of a world, a seemingly alternate reality, worth living for. 

No amount of convincing could deter her from following through on this sliver of hope. To her, belief had to mean more than the stills relayed to her processing centre. It just had to. Becauseto her,  the very essence of her living had to mean something.

That door, she knew, was her answer.

That door, she knew, would provide her with a reason to live, to laugh and to love.

She longed for the ability to one day hold on to that door's handle. She could

already feel her heart race, the space between successive breaths quicken and her hands

shaking simultaneously with the turning of the door's handle.

In that room, she knew she was not alone. She felt alone, but she knew other hearts beat alongside hers.

Independently, separately from hers, but they were there.

She also knew that they, too, were looking for a reason to live to laugh and to love.

They, too, desired an answer, a purpose. They, too, knew there just had to be more than this.

Enshrouded in darkness, she would watch intently as they each carried a source of light slowly, calmly, collectedly towards that door. She would watch as they opened the door, the sudden intensity of the light pushing them back in awe, a halo drawn ever so delicately around them.

And then they'd disappear. The room returning to its familiar darkness.

She had to get get there, somehow she had to find the courage to get too that door. To find her answer, every answer she had ever cried herself to sleep searching for. She whispered, proclaiming subtly to anyone around her who was willing to hear her out, that she wanted something more. She knew in her heart, that beyond these four walls, her answer awaited her. The answer, that would ease her pains, relieve he sorrows and bring glad tidings of better tomorrows. Her trembling voice bore witness to a conviction that had to be based on more than just that tiny sliver of hope that there was something more.

She rose, and as she rose a voice called out to her. She could see the dimly illuminated face of the person coming towards her at a quickened pace. They handed the source of that light over to her and hurried away.

She held it carefully with both hands and realized the source of this light that had guided people time and time again towards that door was a simple oil lamp.

The oil lamp, she realized, would guide her as well. Slowly, and with a firm grip on the lamp, she made her way to the door. Careful not to stumble, she felt her heart race as she came closer towards the door. With the lamp in her left hand, she felt her right hand tremble as she placed it on the doors handle.

And there it was, the light on the other side. More beautiful than her mind could comprehend, let alone imagine. With that, she gently placed the oil lamp on the ground beside her, and continued on her way, the door closing behind her. The four beams through which light shone through into the dark room the only proof remaining of an answer longed for by hearts once like hers. 

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By Allah's (SWT) grace, I live a truly blessed life. For not only do I see all that is beautiful around me for what it is, but as a reflection of who He is. What is beauty if the eyes do not perceive it as such? What is love, and wealth and everything else that is supposed to bring us enjoyment in this world if it has no real meaning. Just as the girl in my story, I have chosen to find an answer for myself- and so I ask you, what does this all mean? It is true that beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder, but it is also a reflection of the Holder of all of life's answers. This faith has guided me to all that is good and I not only find beauty in faith, but I find faith in beauty. And that is exactly what I aspire to be- Beautifullyfaithful.