But nighttime was the hardest of all. When the sun went down, her imagination woke up. Without her night light glowing beside her bed, Catsy felt her heart beat faster and faster.
She worried that monsters lived in the shadows, waiting for her to fall asleep. Every little sound made her jump, and closing her eyes felt impossible.
One evening, a complete blackout swept through the town. Every light blinked off at once. To make matters worse, Catsy’s parents couldn’t find any candles or flashlights.
Catsy clutched her blanket tightly. “Please, can I sleep in your room?” she asked her mother.
Her mom smiled gently and gave her a hug. “Sweetheart, monsters aren’t real. Sometimes our fears make shadows seem scarier than they really are. If you see something that frightens you, take a deep breath and look again.”
That night, Catsy lay awake, staring into the darkness. Suddenly, she noticed a strange shape in the corner of her room. It looked tall… and wiggly… and very spooky.
Her heart thumped. But then she remembered her mom’s words.
Catsy took a deep breath, rubbed her eyes, and looked again.
The “monster” wasn’t a monster at all. It was her coat hanging on a chair, swaying gently in the breeze from the window. Catsy then let out a small laugh. Now the room didn’t feel so scary anymore.
She climbed into bed, hugged her teddy bear, and for the first time ever, fell asleep without her night light.
By morning, Catsy felt proud. She learned that being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared, it means you try anyway.
We’re excited to invite young storytellers and artists to be a part of our vibrant community! Whether you love spinning tales or drawing pictures, you too can get involved here!
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