Zuri's Guiding Light

A luminous fable from LIAA KUMAR on self-trust, belonging, and inner guidance.

- LIAA KUMAR

Zuri, the little firefly, was very nervous.

In just a few hours, her family would be making the long journey to a new clearing in the forest. As the youngest of all her firefly siblings, Zuri had just learned to use her light. While it seemed to come easily to every one of her siblings, hers seemed to be stubbornly stuck at a dim little flicker. She practiced every day for hours, and it was still only half as bright as the others’. Not to mention that she had never flown such a long distance before. Before long, the family was starting to stretch their wings and prepare for takeoff. “Hope you can keep up with us, ZuZu!” her siblings called out, laughing as they flew past to join the others. Zuri watched how easily they flew past, tracing their bright lights through the darkening sky, and felt her nervousness turn to dread.