Lily loved bedtime, but she was a little scared of the dark. Her room wasn’t scary, but the shadows played tricks on her eyes, making ordinary things look like monsters. Her nightlight, a little star-shaped lamp, was her best friend.
One night, as Lily was drifting off to sleep, the little star on her nightlight began to twinkle extra brightly. It pulsed with a soft, warm glow, and then… it floated! Lily gasped, her eyes wide. The little star-lamp gently lifted from its place on her bedside table and began to float around her room.
Lily wasn't scared. Instead, she felt excited. The little star zipped around the room, illuminating hidden corners and making the shadows seem less scary. It even lit up a small, dusty box under her bed that she had never noticed before.
Inside the box was a tiny, beautiful doll with sparkling eyes. The doll smiled up at Lily. ‘Hello,’ whispered the doll, her voice as soft as a feather. ‘I'm Luna. I’ve been waiting for you.’
Luna told Lily that she was a guardian of dreams and that the star nightlight was magical, able to help children feel brave and safe. Together, Lily and Luna explored Lily’s room, making the shadows seem playful rather than menacing. Luna showed Lily how to see the beauty in the darkness—the way the moonlight painted silver streaks on her wall, the gentle way the wind rustled the leaves outside her window.
They played games with the shadows, turning them into silly animals and dancing figures. Lily giggled, forgetting all about her fear. She discovered that the darkness wasn’t scary at all; it was just quiet and full of possibilities.
As dawn approached, the star nightlight gently landed back on Lily’s bedside table. Luna, her job done, gave Lily a final smile. ‘Remember, Lily,’ she whispered, ‘you are brave and strong. You have the power to overcome your fears.’
Lily felt a warmth spread through her heart. She knew that even without the magic, she could face the darkness because she had learned to believe in herself. She also learned that sometimes, the scariest things are just waiting for a little bit of imagination and friendship to reveal their hidden wonder. From that day on, Lily never feared the dark again. Her nightlight, a symbol of her newfound courage and self-belief, shone brightly, guiding her to sleep every night.
And every night, before she closed her eyes, Lily whispered a thank you to her little star and her new friend, Luna, for their magical adventure.