The Light in the Window Every night at exactly 9:00 p.m., David turned on the small light beside his bedroom window. His neighbors thought it was strange. The light stayed on until morning. One evening, a new neighbor asked him, “Why do you leave that light on all night?” David smiled. “My daughter used to look for it.” The neighbor became quiet. “She lived across town,” David continued. “Whenever she visited, she'd call me before leaving and say, ‘Dad, leave the light on so I know which house is yours.’” “What happened to her?” David looked at the window. “She died three years ago.” The neighbor didn't know what to say. David continued turning on the light every night. Then, one rainy evening, someone knocked on his door. It was a young girl from the neighborhood. “Mr. David,” she said, “my parents are fighting. I don't want to go home yet. Can I sit here for a while?” David opened the door. “Of course.” She sat beside him for nearly an hour. Before leaving, she looked at the glowing window. “That's a beautiful light.” David smiled. “My daughter used to think so.” The girl nodded. “Maybe you should keep it on.” “I will.” Years later, that little girl became a doctor. Whenever she felt lost, she remembered the old man and the light in his window. And whenever someone asked why she chose to become a doctor, she always gave the same answer: “Because once, when I was afraid, someone left a light on for me.” David had thought he was keeping the light on for his daughter. He never realized that, years after she was gone, her memory would become a light for someone else.