Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a little fox named Lila. She was cheerful and curious, but one day she saw frightening shadows and heard strange stories about ghosts. Since then, nights became the hardest moments of the day for Lila.
When evening came, her ears drooped, her tail stopped wagging, and her paws hid under the blanket. She was afraid to be alone in her burrow, especially when it became dark outside. Even the moonlight couldn’t calm Lila, and the soft rustling of leaves outside the window made her anxious.
"The darkness is so scary and vast," she whispered, curling up into a little ball. Lila cried, not knowing what to do.
One night, an adult, wise hedgehog peeked into her burrow. His burrow was nearby, and he often chatted with Lila about different things and played with her in the evenings. He had a beautiful spiky beard, and his voice was calm and confident.
"Hello, Lila. I heard you’re afraid of the dark. I came to help you."
"But how?" Lila sobbed. "The darkness is so scary; ghosts and monsters hide in it!"
The hedgehog smiled. "You’ll be surprised, but the darkness is your friend. It helps you sleep well and also lets you see the magic that you can’t see during the day. Let me teach you."
The hedgehog asked Lila to come out of her burrow. Lila hesitated but cautiously peeked outside. The forest was engulfed in darkness, but suddenly tiny lights began to flicker around her. They were fireflies dancing in the air, lighting the way.
"Darkness is like a huge black velvet curtain, on which fireflies draw their patterns," explained the hedgehog. "Look how beautiful it is."
Lila froze, mesmerized by the dance of the lights. The first seed of calm settled in her heart.
The hedgehog gave Lila a small square black lantern.
"This little light will always be with you. If you ever get scared, just turn it on, and it will show you that there’s nothing frightening around."
When Lila turned on the lantern, the corners of her burrow no longer seemed dark and scary. She shone the beam on the walls and realized there was nothing terrifying.
The hedgehog hugged Lila with his gentle, furry paws and said, "Every time you feel fear, put your paws on your heart and say, ‘I’m brave like a fox.’ Your bravery is your inner light, which shines on everything around you."
Lila tried it. She placed her paws on her heart and whispered, "I’m brave like a fox." Her heart started to beat more evenly, and a sparkle of confidence appeared in her eyes.
A few days passed, and Lila was no longer afraid to stay alone in her burrow. She no longer hid under the blanket, and in the evenings before bed, she would turn on her little lantern to make sure her home was a cozy and safe place. And when, in the silence, she heard the rustling of leaves, she thought about how the night forest was just talking to its inhabitants. If fear ever took over her, Lila would whisper, "I’m brave like a fox," and the fear would retreat.
Now, Lila looked at the darkness as her friend. And every night brought her calmness and magical dreams.
Darkness is not an enemy, but a friend that helps us see the world from a different perspective. Bravery and a little light inside are always stronger than any fear.