Mia trudged across the backyard. She held a crumpled drawing tight in her fist. The words on it were all smudged.
She pushed aside the canvas flap and stepped into her fort. Warm yellow light spilled out from the fairy lights. The metal door hinge squeaked.
She gathered her blankets and piled them into a soft nest. She lined up smooth pebbles along the edge and settled in. A cricket began to chirp outside.
She picked up the smooth grey pebble and pressed it against her cheek. The crumpled drawing fell from her lap. Her shoulders dropped. A smile spread across her face.
Mia curled up among the blankets and pebbles. The fairy lights hummed softly. The whole world shrunk down to the size of her little fort.
Outside, the fairy lights kept glowing. Inside, everything was soft and quiet and exactly right.
The crickets sang their nighttime song. The pebbles were cool and smooth. Her drawing waited for tomorrow.
Everything was okay. Her fort was her favorite place. And tomorrow, she would try again.
