Maya stands at the edge of the wet sand, her toes digging in hard as she watches the sun vanish below the horizon. The sky turns a deep, bruised purple.
The moon peeks out, casting long, wiggly shadows that look like giant fingers reaching toward her bare feet. Maya jumps back with a yelp, kicking up a spray of cool water onto her shins.
A bright orange starfish rolls into view, bobbing gently in the shallow foam right next to Maya’s sneaker. It tilts its spiky side, pointing a stubby arm toward the dark dunes.
She takes one step forward, then another, following the starfish’s wobbly path toward the safety of her towel. The starfish bounces ahead, leaving a trail of shimmering bubbles that pop with soft pops under her heels.
Maya giggles, realizing the dark isn't empty, it's just full of little light shows. She lies on her back on the dry sand, tracing the constellations with her finger.
The starfish rests on her chest, pulsing with a faint, warm glow. The ocean hums a low, steady lullaby, no longer loud but comforting like a blanket.
She closes her eyes, smiling at the dark, knowing she is not alone in it. The night feels safe now, wrapped in the quiet company of the glowing sea creature.
The waves crash softly in the distance, a gentle rhythm for the night. Maya drifts into dreams, held secure by the warmth of the starfish and the vast, friendly sea.
