The sudden ray of light was so stark against the encompassing blackness that Mira had to shield her eyes. It wasn't warm, but it was vibrant and contrasted heavily with the oppressive darkness around her.
At first, it appeared as just a tiny speck far in the distance. As Mira focused on it, the pinprick of illumination seemed to grow larger, or perhaps she was just drawn towards it.
All around her, the voices intensified, desperately clamoring for her attention.
"Don't go towards it!"
"It's a trap!"
"You'll regret it!"
But Mira, who was drowning in her own thoughts and doubts just moments ago, felt a renewed vigor. The beam of light, whether real or a figment of her imagination, represented something she sorely needed: Hope and assurance.
Her journey, filled with thorns, mostly not of her own design, constantly tested her resolve.
