The Invisible Words under Anna’s Bed

Anna lay in her bed. But she couldn't sleep. Mum's favourite pen was under the bed. It was broken. Anna had broken it by accident.

“Nobody saw,” Anna whispered. She pulled the blanket over her head.

Then something warm tickled her nose. A little orange dragon was sitting on her pillow. His scales shimmered softly in the dark.

“I'm Luminos,” he said quietly. His voice sounded like a gentle song. “Can you hear that too?”

Anna listened. Something was scratching under the bed. Luminos blew softly, and sparkling letters floated through the air. Now Anna could read what the pen was writing in the dark.

“Why are you hiding me?” it said in sad, grey letters.

Anna looked around. Her room was greyer than usual. The colourful pictures on the wall looked pale.

“My room is so sad,” Anna said softly.

Luminos tilted his little head. “Why do you think that is?”

Anna thought for a moment. “Because I'm hiding something?”

Luminos nodded gently. “What would you like to do?”

Anna's heart was beating fast. But she got up. She took the pen out from under the bed. Then she went to Mum's room.

“Mum, I broke your pen. I'm sorry.”

Mum gave Anna a hug. “Thank you for being honest. That matters much more to me than any pen.”

When Anna came back to her room, colourful word bubbles from Luminos were floating through the air. Red, yellow, blue. The whole room was glowing again.

Luminos winked. Then he became very still, very warm, very quiet.

Anna fell asleep. With a smile.