The Little Dragon on the Windowsill

When the lamp clicked off, the bedroom grew dark and soft, like the inside of a plum. Grace pulled the blanket up to her chin and looked at the shadows on the wall.

"Mom," she whispered, "the dark feels too big tonight." Mom sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed Grace's hair.

That was when a tiny glow flickered on the windowsill. Firefly landed on the windowsill, blinking his soft yellow light, as if to say, "Look closer."

Grace sat up slowly. Curled on the windowsill was a tiny dragon, no bigger than a teacup, with wings folded like leaves. Every time he breathed, a warm little puff of light glowed from his nose, like a small candle flame.

"He's so small," Grace whispered, forgetting to be scared for a moment. Mom leaned closer too, smiling. "He looks like he wandered in from a dream," she said softly.

The little dragon blinked his round eyes at Grace and yawned, letting out one more glowing puff. Firefly floated near his tail, lighting up the dragon's scales like tiny gold coins.

"Do you think he's lost?" Grace asked. Mom shook her head gently. "Maybe he's exactly where he wants to be," she said. "Maybe he came to keep you company."

Grace thought about that. She looked at the dragon's warm glowing breath, and the dark corners of the room did not feel so big anymore. "Will you stay and watch over me?" Grace asked the little dragon.

The dragon blinked slowly, which seemed like a yes. He curled his tail around himself and puffed out one more soft glow, brighter this time, like a nightlight made just for Grace.

Mom tucked the blanket snugly around Grace's shoulders. "See?" she said. "Now you have two little lights watching over you tonight." Firefly blinked happily from the windowsill, agreeing.

Grace lay back down, watching the dragon's gentle glow rise and fall with his breathing. It was warm and steady, like a tiny lantern that never went out.

"I'm not scared of the dark anymore," Grace said quietly. "The dragon makes it glow." Mom kissed her forehead. "That's because you invited him to stay," she said. "You made room for the light."

The little dragon shifted closer on the windowsill, his glow dimming to a soft, sleepy shimmer. Firefly settled beside him, and together their two small lights filled the room with a gentle golden hush.

Grace watched the shadows turn friendly, shaped by the warm glow instead of hidden by the dark. Her eyes grew heavy, and her breathing slowed to match the dragon's quiet puffs.

Mom hummed softly, one hand resting on Grace's back. "Sleep now," she whispered. "Your little dragon and your firefly will watch the window all night."

Grace smiled into the pillow, feeling safe and warm. The last thing she saw was the tiny dragon's glow, steady as a heartbeat, and Firefly blinking beside him like a friendly little star.

And so Grace drifted off to sleep, wrapped in soft blankets and softer light, while the little dragon and Firefly kept their gentle watch until morning.