The Dream Balloon

The bedroom was very, very quiet now. Outside, the friendly branches of the old oak tree brushed against the window. Swish, swish, rustle. It was no longer a scary tapping sound. It sounded like a soft, sleepy tree-song, singing just for Nora.

Inside, the room was painted with a warm, golden glow. The little nightlight—shaped like a happy, blinking firefly—cast soft yellow circles across the ceiling. They looked like little round islands of light.

Nora snuggled deep beneath her fluffiest blanket. It felt like a big, warm hug from a cloud.

At the foot of the bed sat Luna. Luna was a very curious, very cozy gray cat. Her green eyes caught the firefly light, shining like two tiny stars. She washed her left paw with a soft lick-lick-lick, then looked up at Nora.

Mew? she asked.

Nora smiled. Her tummy felt warm and happy.

"Luna," Nora whispered. She wiggled her toes under the blanket. "Come here, silly kitty. I have a giant secret to tell you."

Luna’s ears perked up. She loved secrets. With quiet, tippy-toe steps, the little gray cat padded across the soft blanket. Soft, soft, soft. She walked all the way up to Nora’s pillow.

Nora leaned in close. Luna smelled like sunshine and fresh backyard grass.

"My big secret," Nora whispered, her voice as soft as a falling feather, "is that I am not afraid of the dark anymore. The dark is just a cozy blanket for the world. And I am finally ready to go to sleep."

Luna blinked her big green eyes. She understood. She let out a happy little chirp. Then, she did the very best thing a cat can do. She turned around once, twice, three times, tucked her white paws under her chest, and curled up right against Nora’s tummy.

Immediately, Luna began to purr. Rumble, rumble, rumble. It felt like a tiny, warm motor humming right through Nora's pajamas. It was the coziest sound in the whole wide world.

Nora let out a long, sleepy sigh. Ahhh. She rested her small hand on Luna’s soft, warm back. Her eyelids felt very, very heavy.

She closed her eyes.

In the dark behind her eyes, Nora did not see scary shadows. Instead, she saw a beautiful balloon. It was a giant, glowing dream balloon, woven from starlight and the golden glow of a thousand friendly fireflies. The basket of the balloon was lined with the fluffiest pillows and the softest, warmest blankets.

In her mind, Nora and Luna climbed into the basket. Up, up, up they went.

With a gentle, sleepy swoop, the dream balloon lifted off. It did not go too fast. It just drifted, floating safely through the quiet night sky. They floated past the friendly oak tree. Bye-bye, tree, Nora thought. They floated up toward the smiling, yellow moon. The stars sparkled all around them like tiny, friendly nightlights in the sky.

Nora felt so light. She felt like she was floating on a cloud of feathers.

The night wind whispered a soft shhh, shhh, shhh as the balloon drifted. Luna snuggled closer in the basket, her warm purr keeping Nora safe and cozy. Nora knew she was a very brave girl. The dark was not scary. It was just a quiet space for beautiful dreams.

Nora’s breathing became slow and steady. In and out. In and out. Her fingers relaxed on Luna’s soft gray fur.

The dream balloon carried them higher and higher into the happy, starry night. Nora fell fast, fast asleep, feeling brave, snuggly, and so very loved.

Goodnight, brave Nora. Goodnight, cozy Luna. Sweet dreams.