Nilo and the light of the night
It was already late and the room was in soft semi-darkness. Nilo lay in bed, the covers pulled up to his nose. The light in the hallway was off and the moon was reflected in the window.
But instead of becoming calm, Nilo felt a tugging in his stomach - that quiet fear that came when everything around him was quiet.
"What if I can't fall asleep?" thought Nilo. "And why does the room feel so empty?"
A lump rose in his throat and the darkness seemed to draw a little closer.
Suddenly something glittered in the room - first just a tiny dot, then a soft, silvery glow.
Lunara floated out of the shimmer, her fur like liquid starlight, her eyes as calm as the night sky.
"Hello, little dreamer," she whispered, her voice as soft as moonlight on snow.
"I felt you tremble. The night can seem big when you feel small."
Nilo nodded quietly. "I don't like falling asleep. Then I'm so alone."
Lunara wrapped her tail of sparkling light around him. "You are never alone. The night holds you - just like the sky holds the stars."
Then she gently tapped Nilo's forehead with her paw.
"Come on, let's travel to Snoozetopia. There I'll show you what lives in the darkness."
With a flicker of lights, Nilo slipped into a dream.
He stood in a meadow of silver grass, a sea of stars twinkling above him.
All around him, little beings of light shone - tiny shimmers that danced as if they were breathing.
"These are the night sparks," explained Lunara. "They guard the dreams of all children who feel alone."
A spark floated to Nilo and sat on his hand. It felt warm, almost like a tiny heartbeat.
"If you close your eyes at night and feel anxious, you can call the night sparks," said Lunara.
"Put your hand on your heart and whisper: I am held. Then imagine little lights surrounding you - calm, warm, protective."
Nilo closed his eyes and did so. He felt something inside him soften - as if he was glowing from within.
The darkness no longer felt empty, but quiet and friendly.
When Nilo opened his eyes again, he was back in his bed.
The moonlight lay on his pillow, and somewhere outside the wind was rustling softly.
He put his hand on his heart and whispered:
"I am held."
And for a moment, it was as if Lunara was still there - a faint glimmer at the edge of his dream.
Nilo smiled, snuggled into the blanket and let himself be gently carried to sleep.
