sintumiddya/aws-mern-backend ? reverse-engineered prompt

Build me a simple backend for a MERN app that can be deployed on AWS.

I want a clean Node.js API with the usual project setup, environment based config, and a Docker setup so it can run locally and in the cloud the same way. Please make it easy to connect to a frontend later, and include a good example env file so I know what variables I need to fill in.

If you can, set it up in a way that is ready for real world use, with sensible structure, basic error handling, and a clear starting point for adding routes and database code. Use current best practices and look up current docs online if you need to. Also make sure the README is updated so someone can run it without guessing.