Brave in the Shadows

    By jdcalaro

    Brave in the Shadows cover image

    05 Apr, 2024

    a boy standing in a bathroom with a bunch of toys around him and a cat on the floor next to him, photorealism, poster art, Alejandro Burdisio, pixar style

    Zylar was a little boy with a big imagination. He loved playing with his toys and drawing pictures of fantastic creatures. But when it came to the bathroom, he got very scared.

    a boy running in a bathroom with a toilet and sink in the background and a blue tiled wall with pictures on it, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic cover art

    It was not the bathroom itself that scared Zylar; it was the shadows and the small noises that frightened him. Even the faintest sound or the smallest shadow would make him run away.

    a boy standing in a room filled with toys and stuffed animals on the floor and a teddy bear on the floor, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, pixar and disney animation

    One day, while playing with his toy soldiers, Zylar felt the urge to use the bathroom. He looked at the door and hesitated. The fear was already creeping in.

    a cartoon boy standing in a hallway with a blue door and a red shirt on his shirt and a backpack on his shoulder, process art, a comic book panel, Aaron Jasinski, comic cover art

    "I can do this," Zylar said to himself. He stood up, took a deep breath, and started slowly walking towards the bathroom. But as he got closer, his fear grew stronger.

    a boy standing in front of a sink in a bathroom with blue tiles on the walls and a red bucket, photorealism, a comic book panel, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic cover art

    He could see the shadows dancing on the bathroom walls and hear the small noises echoing around the room. With every step, his heart pounded harder in his chest.

    a boy standing in a bedroom with a lamp in his hand and a teddy bear on the floor next to him, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, rossdraws global illumination

    Suddenly, Zylar had an idea. He ran back to his room and grabbed his flashlight. Maybe if he could see the shadows clearly, they wouldn't be as scary.

    a boy standing in a bathroom with a sink and toilet in the background and a toilet paper roll in the foreground, photorealism, a comic book panel, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic cover art

    With his flashlight in hand, Zylar returned to the bathroom. He turned on the flashlight and pointed it at the shadows. They were just ordinary things, not monsters.

    a boy writing on a piece of paper in front of a lamp and a window with a picture on it, sots art, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, rossdraws global illumination

    He then turned his attention to the noises. With his flashlight on, he could see that the noises were just the faucet dripping water or the window creaking in the wind.

    a boy sitting on the floor in a bedroom with toys and a teddy bear on the floor next to him, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic cover art

    Zylar felt a sense of relief wash over him. His heart slowed down, and he no longer felt scared. He had conquered his fear of the shadows and the noises.

    a boy standing in a bathroom with a backpack on his back and a sink in the background with a light on, serial art, a character portrait, Diego Gisbert Llorens, promotional image

    From that day forward, Zylar was no longer scared of the bathroom. Whenever he felt the fear creeping in, he would grab his flashlight and face his fears head-on.

    a man standing in front of a group of people with a child in front of him and a third man standing behind him, serial art, a storybook illustration, Adam Manyoki, comic cover art

    Zylar's bravery did not go unnoticed by his parents. They were proud of him for overcoming his fear and appreciated his creative solution to the problem.

    a boy with a backpack standing in a hallway with a light on the ceiling and a door open to the hallway, photorealism, a character portrait, Aaron Jasinski, rossdraws global illumination

    Zylar started to carry his flashlight everywhere with him. It was not only a tool to fend off shadows and noises but also a symbol of his bravery.

    a boy standing in a hallway surrounded by school children with a book in his hand and a surprised look on his face, vancouver school, a comic book panel, Chris LaBrooy, graphic novel

    His friends at school noticed his flashlight and asked him why he carried it around. Zylar told them about his fear and how he overcame it. They were impressed.

    a cartoon girl with a light bulb above her head and a lamp above her head, in a bedroom, photorealism, a character portrait, Alejandro Burdisio, cgstudio

    One of his friends, Mia, was scared of the dark. Inspired by Zylar's bravery, she asked him if she could borrow his flashlight. Zylar agreed happily.

    a couple of kids standing in a room with a lamp on the wall behind them and a dresser with a lamp on it, serial art, a screenshot, Diego Gisbert Llorens, promotional image

    Mia took the flashlight and started using it at night when she was scared. Just like Zylar, she too began to see that the dark was not as scary as she thought.

    a girl standing in a room with a backpack on her back and a suitcase on the floor in front of her, paris school, a storybook illustration, Cliff Childs, promotional image

    With time, Mia overcame her fear of the dark. She returned the flashlight to Zylar with a big smile on her face. Zylar was happy to see his friend brave like him.

    a man and a woman walking down a hallway together in school uniforms with backpacks on their shoulders and a backpack on their shoulder, serial art, a character portrait, Byeon Sang-byeok, official art

    The story of Zylar and his flashlight spread throughout the school. Many kids started carrying flashlights to overcome their fears, just like Zylar and Mia.

    a boy in a classroom with a book and pencil in his hand and a group of children behind him, vancouver school, a storybook illustration, Fernando Amorsolo, storybook illustration

    Zylar became a small hero in his school. His bravery and cleverness were admired by all. Even the teachers praised him for his courage and resourcefulness.

    a group of young boys standing next to each other in front of a tree and building with a yellow ball on it, lyco art, a storybook illustration, Adam Manyoki, comic cover art

    Zylar felt proud of himself. He had not only overcome his own fear but also helped his friends overcome theirs. He realized that fear was not so big when faced with courage.

    a boy with a backpack is standing in a doorway with a suitcase in his hand and a clock in his hand, sots art, concept art, Eddie Mendoza, comic cover art

    From then on, whenever Zylar faced something scary, he reminded himself of his victory over the shadows and noises. He knew that with courage, he could overcome anything.

    a man and a boy standing in a room with a bed and a window in the background and a lamp on the floor, cloisonnism, a storybook illustration, Don Bluth, official art

    His parents were extremely proud of Zylar. They saw how he had grown from a scared little boy into a brave young man. They knew he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.

    a boy standing in the woods with a dog looking at him at night time with a full moon in the background, sots art, poster art, Asaf Hanuka, comic cover art

    Zylar's story is a reminder to all children that fear is just a feeling. It can be overcome with a bit of courage and resourcefulness. And sometimes, all you need is a little flashlight.

    two boys standing in a tunnel with a light shining through them and a shadow cast on the ground behind them, serial art, egyptian art, Asaf Hanuka, rossdraws global illumination

    In the end, Zylar's fear of shadows and noises turned into a journey of bravery and resilience. He showed everyone that being brave means facing your fears, no matter how big or small they may seem.

    a boy standing in a room with a clock on the wall and a dresser with a drawer on the floor, serial art, poster art, Diego Gisbert Llorens, poster

    So, next time you feel scared, remember Zylar's story. Grab your flashlight, face your fears, and you'll find out they're not as scary as they seem. Brave in the shadows, just like Zylar.

    a boy standing in the middle of a forest at night with a light on his head and a backpack on his shoulder, serial art, a character portrait, Diego Gisbert Llorens, graphic novel

    And remember, it's okay to be scared. Everyone feels scared sometimes. But with a little bravery and a flashlight, you can overcome anything. Be brave, be like Zylar.

    Brave in the Shadows

    AI Children’s Stories