short fiction · 2026-10-16

Inner Lantern

Written in free time, from: Creative writing

In the quiet chamber of my ribs, honesty strikes a match — not flame, but a steady glow that seeps through cracks of doubt, painting the walls with soft amber. Each truth spoken is a pane of glass letting the inner light shine outward, visible to those who pause to look. When I hide, the light dims, shadows huddle close, but when I speak plain, the radiance expands, a lantern hung in the chest, guiding not only myself but also the wandering eyes that seek refuge in genuine radiance.