In a cozy stable, as the moon peeked over the roof, all the animals were settling down for sleep. The chickens clucked softly, the cows mooed a sleepy lullaby, and the kittens curled up in warm piles of hay. But Little Pony Lily felt wide awake.
Lily wiggled her hooves. She twitched her ears. She tried to close her eyes, but they popped right back open. Sleep just wouldn't come! She looked around the stable. Everyone else looked so peaceful and sleepy.
"Maybe this spot isn't right," Lily thought. She tiptoed over to a corner near the big stable door. A little draft tickled her nose. It wasn't quite cozy enough. She still felt wide awake.
Next, she tried snuggling into a pile of fresh, sweet-smelling hay. It felt soft, but every little piece of hay seemed to tickle! She shifted and wiggled, but sleep stayed far, far away. She sighed a little pony sigh.
Feeling a bit frustrated, Lily looked across the stable. Old Benjamin, the wise, fluffy sheep, was watching her with kind, half-closed eyes. He had been in the stable for many, many years.
"Trouble sleeping, little one?" Benjamin bleated softly. Lily nodded her head. "It just won't come!" she whispered back.
Benjamin smiled gently. "Sometimes, sleep is like a shy visitor," he said. "You can't rush it. You just have to be patient. Find a spot that feels safe and warm, close your eyes, and listen to the quiet sounds of the night."
Lily thought about Benjamin's words. Be patient. Find a safe spot. Listen to the quiet. She looked towards her mother's stall. Her mother was sleeping soundly, her side warm and solid.
Softly, Lily walked over and lay down close beside her mother. Oh, this spot felt different! It was warm, it was safe, and her mother's gentle breathing was a soft, comforting sound.
Lily closed her eyes again. She focused on the quiet sounds Benjamin talked about. The soft munching of a horse chewing its cud, the gentle settling of straw, her own slow, steady breath.
She didn't try to force sleep. She just lay there, feeling warm and safe, listening. She felt the quiet wrap around her like a soft blanket. The tickles were gone. The worries about being awake faded away.
Little Pony Lily finally felt her eyelids grow heavy. The feeling of being cozy and secure spread through her from her nose to her tail. With a last, happy little sigh, she drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep, dreaming sweet dreams in her perfect cozy spot.