A woman slowly pushed the door to her house open, giving a long sigh of exhaustion. She closed it and took in the view of her living room. Dust was still laid around, and her jacket was still laying over the back of her armchair. The entire room was covered in a dim light. It always had been.

She got herself a coffee and sat down on the couch, using her remote to flicker through the channels of her tiny television. News floated by, then a documentary, then a game show. Things she had watched for years on end. Things that all felt the same. It wasn't long before she made the screen fade to black.

She tapped the edge of her mug. Tomorrow, she would get up and fix herself breakfast. She would go to work. She would come back. She would do some minute activities before waking up and doing it all again. The eternal loop of life.

But this was the life she wanted, so this was the life she had gotten.

She gazed out of her window listlessly. Outside, the trees swayed, their autumn leaves occasionally falling to the ground. In a nearby yard, she noticed two children chasing each other around. Both of them had a light in their expression. One that couldn't be explained, but was as clear as day. It looked like something that couldn't be brought down. Something that spread to others and made the whole world brighter.

Memories slowly filled the woman's mind, small raindrops on dry earth.

Years ago, she and her friends came in a coffee shop just to talk, but instead discussed their problems. Some of those struggles seemed so simple, like relationships, or a simple grade count. They all understood each other. The burden became lighter once it had been shared.

She remembered that time when she and another had gotten into a heated argument. Words with the edge of daggers had been thrown, and a coldness had warped their points of view. They had departed, never to see each other again. She still wondered about that person.

That time when she loved someone very much, and that someone loved her back. They would dream of impossible things and whisper promises of a life neverending.

Until that someone faded away.

That time when she had been wandering through a playground, wondering if her destiny was to be alone. A group of friends asked her if she wanted to play a game. She had said no. As the group left, she despaired in her loneliness again. She had been so blind then.

That time when she tried to learn the flute, but found it too difficult. She had wanted to give up so badly. That was, until her parents encouraged her to take it one step at a time. She had realized the beauty of imperfection.

That time when she and a friend had wandered too far from home in pursuit of adventure. Yet, the houses and roads all blended together, and they had gotten lost. She had been so relieved when she was found that she didn't even care about the punishment they had given her.

That time when she came to a ceremony where everyone wore suits of black and she watched her grandmother in that box lie still and unmoving. It was only then that she had realized how little time life truly gave.

That time she had a dream, and wanted nothing more than to follow it. Years later, reality sunk in, and she realized that she could never follow it.

That time when she had received a pet. Treated it as her very own child. Loved it. Lost it.

Those times when her family would sit around in a house's living room. They would do nothing but swap stories and talk about the most random and amusing of topics. The conversations would be simple, but they were the most memorable. Because it came from them.

That moment when she felt like she wasn't enough for anyone. That everyone wanted nothing to do with her, and that she could never be loved. But then, her friends and family supported her. She could still remember the hug from her sister, and all of the feelings began to wash away. She had been glad that she was wrong. Because love is beautiful.

That piece of her heart when she looked around at her family and friends, and realized that it could be a very long time before she saw them again. The departure had been bitter. She thought it was worth it though. She was about to experience life. She was about to become the best version of herself. Or so she had thought.

Her memories faded into something else, then. Enjoying the sounds outside her window. Taking a walk. Remembering the smile on her father's face when she gave him a homemade birthday card. Her art teacher giving her a word of praise. Asking for a story to be read for the hundredth time just because she loved how her mother made it come to life. Apologizing for hitting her little sister, and when they had embraced, feeling that weight lift off her shoulders.

Her living room came back into view. The children outside had gone. The leaves on the tree had all fallen to the ground, leaving it barren.

The woman hadn't even realized. How had they all slipped away from her sight? Perhaps her thoughts had blinded her.

She turned her gaze back inside, at her own room. There had been nothing of worth here. Not a single smile was found in this room. Not a single tear could be found, and not a single sound of laughter. The woman began to realize what that light was. She too, understood why she didn't have it herself.

She wondered if that treasure could still be found.

The woman arose from her seat and walked toward the door. She placed her hand on the doorknob, her heart racing.

Then, she turned it.