Lisa was presented with a highly commended certificate in Maitland City Library’s annual WRITE NOW! writing challenge. Well done Lisa!
Read Lisa’s story below.

The Light in the Forest

There it is! I see something I remember from when I was young. It was so bright and captivating, compared to the dark forest I’ve lived in for most of my life. I stare at it and then move towards it – but I take a wrong turn.

I am travelling through the forest, I have been walking my whole life. Struggling to find my way, it’s like the forest never ends. The forest is dark, gloomy and filled with wild animals, but the animals keep their distance and leave me alone.

Everything is turning dark again, and once again I cannot see anything. The forest is now opaque. I turn myself around and try to find the light, but it is gone. I turn and walk in the opposite direction, back towards my beautiful, golden light. I remember this light – I have seen it before. I have memories of my family, from before the time I was lost in the forest. My mother explained this light to me – she called it Our Sparkling Sun. Slowly, I start to understand. The light I found is the sun as it sets.

I find a safe place to sleep – among the trees where I can hide. I never know when the animals might be hunting and think I would be a delicious meal. I find it safer to move through the forest at night, when the largest and most dangerous animals are sleeping. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness. I am a nocturnal human being.

I awaken to the light shining in my face. It is so bright that I have to look away. Our Sparkling Sun is so close that I know I can reach out and touch it.

It is my mother, trying to tell me something – trying to show me the way out of the forest.