LIGHT AGAIN!

He walked back towards the rest house, the old woman's words echoing in his mind. "The light will appear again. When you are ready. When you have asked the right questions." What were the right questions? He pondered this as he strolled along the path, the haystacks now seeming less mysterious, more like silent guardians of a secret he was slowly unraveling. He felt a shift within him, a sense of purpose he hadn't experienced before. He wasn't just a confused kid anymore; he was a seeker, a questioner, a learner.

He reached the rest house and slipped back inside, just as his family was preparing for their evening outing. "Where were you?" his mom asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Just exploring," he replied, offering a casual shrug. He didn't want to share his encounter with the old woman yet. It felt like a secret he needed to keep, a personal journey he had to navigate on his own.

The family went out for dinner again, this time to a different restaurant. He sat at the table, listening to the conversation, but his mind was elsewhere. He was replaying his conversation with the old woman, trying to decipher the meaning of her words. "What is it that you truly desire? What is it that keeps you awake at night?"

He thought about his life, his struggles, his constant questioning. He realized that his desire wasn't just to understand the world; it was to find his place in it. He wanted to feel like he belonged, like he wasn't just a puzzle piece that didn't fit. He wanted to connect with others, to share his thoughts and feelings without being judged or dismissed.

That night, back in his room, he couldn't sleep. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind buzzing with thoughts. He got up and went to the window, looking out at the haystacks. They were bathed in moonlight, their shapes softened and mysterious. He felt a pull towards them, a sense that they held the answers he was searching for.

He decided to go back to the shed. He didn't know what he would find there, but he felt compelled to return. He quietly opened his door and slipped out of the room, making his way through the silent rest house.

The path to the shed was even more mysterious at night, the shadows playing tricks on his eyes. He walked cautiously, his senses heightened, listening to the sounds of the night – the chirping of crickets, the rustling of leaves, the distant hooting of an owl.

He reached the clearing and saw that the shed was dark. He hesitated for a moment, then approached the door and knocked softly. There was no answer. He knocked again, a little louder. Still nothing.

He tried the door handle, and to his surprise, it was unlocked. He opened the door and stepped inside. The shed was even darker at night, the only light coming from the moon shining through the window. He could make out the shapes of the objects he had seen earlier – the jars, the herbs, the books.

He felt a presence in the room, even though he knew he was alone. He could almost hear the old woman's voice, whispering in his ear, "The light will appear again. When you are ready."

He walked over to the window and looked out at the haystacks. They were silhouetted against the moonlit sky, their shapes stark and imposing. He waited, watching, hoping to see the light again.

And then, it appeared. A faint glow, emanating from one of the haystacks. It was different from the light he had seen before. This light was softer, warmer, almost inviting.

He felt a sense of calm wash over him. He knew what he had to do. He turned away from the window and walked towards the door. He didn't know what he would find at the haystack, but he knew he had to go. He had to follow the light.

He stepped out of the shed and into the night, the faint glow of the light guiding him towards the haystacks. He walked confidently, his heart filled with anticipation. He was ready. He was ready to ask the right questions. He was ready to find his place in the world.

As he approached the haystack, the light grew brighter, illuminating the path before him. He reached the haystack and looked up, searching for the source of the light. And then, he saw it. A small, flickering lantern, hanging from a branch of a tree that grew beside the haystack.

He walked closer and saw that there was a small wooden door in the side of the haystack, hidden behind the tree. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and opened the door. He stepped inside, and the door closed behind him, plunging him into darkness.