The Shadow

Every night, the boy struggled to fall asleep. The silhouettes of anything under the moonlight filled him with fear and made his heart race.

He was afraid of the dark.

"There are ghosts..." the boy said tearfully to his mother.

His mother comforted him with a pat on the back and closed the door for him, saying, "Just go to sleep," without paying much attention.

The boy covered his head with the blanket, too afraid to close his eyes.

A sigh came from the corner.

Suddenly, the boy's shadow moved, reaching out and grabbing a frightened, pale ghost by its collar. The ghost looked as obedient as a puppy.

"Kid, this is a ghost," the shadow impatiently remarked. "It's nighttime, my domain. What's there to be afraid of?"

The boy widened his eyes in astonishment and crawled toward the edge of the bed.

"So, can you sleep now or not?" the shadow pressed a hand against the boy's curious head, speaking through gritted teeth.