Epigraphs are like little appetizers to the great entrée of a story. They illuminate important aspects of the story, and they get us headed in the right direction.
The world is dark, and light is precious.
Come closer, dear reader.
You must trust me.
I am telling you a story.
The epigraph is told in the narrator's voice and has the same intimacy with the reader that's evident throughout the book. From the very beginning, the narrator forms a relationship with the reader and makes it feel like the story is just for them. She's also letting you know that she thinks stories are very important. They're part of the light; they open your eyes.