Leo lay in bed with every light blazing. The hallway lamp, the closet light, his nightlight – all buzzing and humming.
When the nightlight suddenly flickered, Leo gasped. He pulled the blanket up to his nose.
A shadow fox appeared on the wall. Its pointy ears stretched and shrank as Leo watched.
Then a shadow deer stepped out from behind the fox, its antlers wiggling like tree branches. As Leo lowered the blanket, the shadow animals turned to look at him.
Leo sat up slowly. The shadow fox hopped down from the wall to his pillow, leaving a faint tickle of cool air.
The shadow deer nudged his hand with its nose. Then both creatures leaped toward the ceiling, where tiny star shapes began to glow.
Leo climbed onto his bed and reached toward the ceiling. The star shapes swirled and twirled around his fingertips like fireflies.
The shadow fox and deer raced across the stars, leaving trails of sparkly light. Leo laughed as one star landed gently on his palm and vanished with a soft pop.
Leo lay back and the whole ceiling became a night sky. Shadow animals swam among the stars.
The nightlight glowed soft and steady. Leo's eyelids grew heavy as the shadow fox curled up against his cheek.
When morning came, Leo woke up in the dark room.
He didn't turn on a single light.
