I stood staring into the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three months had passed since Elonyah and I had first emerged from the caves. We had sunburnt, fire-burnt, burnt our tongues, every kind of burnt. We were starting to match the rosy tones of the people of Chiaran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite how much I loved this world, the sun, the light, I missed my people. My friends. I mourned that they still lived in darkness. I mourned that the Leaders would lie to cover our disappearance and that our people would believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elonyah fit right in here. Cave life had never suited her. She missed her friends, but didn\u2019t spare any extra time dwelling on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I couldn\u2019t help thinking about it. I wanted everyone<\/em> to find this, this light, this life. There was so much more vitality here. It felt selfish to keep it to ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sighed, then turned to find one of our new friends, Carlyth, standing behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSurely there is something<\/em> I can do to help my people,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carlyth pursed her lips. \u201cYou could\u2026go back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I winced. \u201cI could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou could take a torch with you, show them that there is<\/em> a world out here,\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat if they don\u2019t believe me? I might be killed.\u201d I twisted my hands together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose that is the risk you must take. Not everyone will believe. That is\u2026life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I nodded slowly. \u201cThen I think I must go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shivered. The caves were as miserable as I remembered them being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I lifted my torch aloft, marveling again at how much it lit up the space. I glanced over my shoulder at my sister and the rest of our companions. We had decided to bring five extra people to validify our claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I scanned the riverbank as we walked. We were moving back the way Elonyah and I had first come, and I hoped I would recognize the tunnels back to our colony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elonyah was skipping happily along, her torch gleaming in her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shook my head. I hope this light in her never goes away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see it, Leah!\u201d Elonyah called. \u201cIt looks like our tunnel!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I found the spot she was pointing at. \u201cYes, that looks right. Let\u2019s cross here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n El and I had also learned how to swim in the last weeks, so crossing the river proved much easier than the first time, even with the added difficulty of the torches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then we were wandering through the tunnels, leaving a rope trailing behind to map our route, with Elonyah and I stopping here and there to scratch our heads at the many routes through the caverns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, though, we made it back to a familiar place\u2014our old home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throat tight, I surveyed the tunnels we had grow up in. My eyes skittered from door to door, noticing features we\u2019d never been able to see in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elonyah took my hand. I didn\u2019t shake her away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sudden scream jolted me out of my reverie. Someone\u2014a neighbour\u2014had stepped through their door. I\u2026had no idea who it was. I needed her to talk to recognize her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello! It\u2019s\u2026Ceceleah. And Elonyah!\u201d I stepped forward, holding out my torch. \u201cWe found a bigger world with light! Come and we will take you there!\u201d There. My first call to follow us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The woman stumbled toward us. \u201cWhat? What? Ceceleah, this light\u2026?\u201d She reached me, her hand stretching to touch my torch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe careful! It\u2019s hot! It will burn you!\u201d That\u2019s when I recognized her. Brena. Our old friend. \u201cBrena! Look! This fire\u2026it heats food! Like you have been trying to do!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her mouth dropped open. \u201cI\u2026don\u2019t believe it. I\u2026can see you! And this fire! It\u2026the Leaders have lied to us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I swallowed. \u201cYes. And now we come to break those lies to pieces and bring any who want to come out to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brena\u2019s eyes shone with tears. \u201cI am coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so it began: us going around, gathering people to come with us. Many join, but there were also some who\u2026were not eager to leave the only world they had ever known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They rejected the light. And it hurt. But there was nothing we could do except leave the invitation open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We soon had made our way through the whole colony, and had a band of people trailing behind us, muffled voice marveling over the torches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I glanced behind me, over a sea of people clutching their possessions close and trusting us to lead them forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I smiled. And we would. We would lead them into a lightness<\/em> they had never known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And for those who didn\u2019t come? We would come back. To try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we would leave the rope marking the way. That way anyone who changed their mind could still come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I smiled at my sister. Sometimes to find truth, you must take an utterly blind leap of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n on those living in the land of deep darkness\u00a0a light has dawned.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n