THE LIGHT WE LEAVE BEHIND

Give me your hand.

We do not need to know

where the road will end.

There are wounds without scars,

silences hidden behind smiles,

and hearts that forget

how to ask for light.

Stay close.

Sometimes presence alone

is a form of love.

A hand can become a bridge,

a word can become a shelter,

a small kindness

can travel farther than we know.

Nothing given with love disappears.

It takes root quietly

in the heart of another

and waits for its season to shine.

So, when you meet tired eyes,

do not turn away.

Be the light

you once needed yourself.

Give me your hand.

Not to walk ahead,

not to arrive first,

but to arrive together.

Leaving no one behind.

Menda Vreto is an Albanian writer who lives and creates in Italy. She is the author of several books published in Italian, and her works have been translated into several languages internationally. She regularly collaborates with both online and print magazines, where she publishes literary articles and essays. Her work has received significant recognition. Among her achievements is the Special Jury Award in the literary competition Il Silenzio Uccide (Silence Kills), where her work was featured prominently in the anthology. Her first book also attracted the attention of the prestigious magazine Marie Claire, which featured her extensively, recognizing both her work and her journey as an author. Menda Vreto proudly bears the surname Vreto, a name connected to the distinguished figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, Jani Vreto. She considers this family name a legacy of profound cultural and historical significance.