Once upon a time, under the soft glow of the moon, the ocean was very still. Tiny starfish sparkled on the sandy floor like little stars in the sky. In this quiet, magical place lived a mermaid named Marina. Marina loved to swim near the shore when the world was quiet, and all the children were fast asleep. But Marina was not alone. She had a friend, a bright orange starfish named Spark.

“Marina, do you think anyone will come to visit us tonight?” Spark asked, wiggling his five arms. He loved when Marina told stories to the little sea creatures, and sometimes, even the fish would gather to listen.

“I’m not sure,” Marina replied softly, her long blue tail shimmering as she swam. “But I hope so. I have a new story to share.”

The waves gently rocked back and forth, making soft, soothing sounds. Nearby, little crabs scuttled across the sand, and tiny fish swam in circles, waiting to hear Marina’s sweet voice.

But just then, they heard a sound. It wasn’t the sound of the ocean or the fish. It was the sound of crying. Marina and Spark looked around, and there, sitting on the rocks, was a little boy. His name was Tommy, and he looked very sad.

“What’s wrong?” asked Spark, his voice small but kind.

Tommy looked up. “I’m afraid of the dark,” he said quietly, hugging his knees. “It’s so dark at night, and I can’t see anything. I feel all alone.”

Marina swam closer, her tail making tiny splashes in the water. “Hello, Tommy,” she said gently. “My name is Marina, and this is Spark. You’re not alone. We’re here.”

Tommy sniffled and wiped his eyes. “But everything looks scary in the dark. My room feels so big, and the shadows look like monsters.”

Marina nodded. “The dark can seem scary, but it’s also full of magic.” She waved her tail, and suddenly, tiny lights appeared in the water around them, glowing softly like little stars. The sea lit up in a beautiful, calming light, and Tommy’s eyes grew wide.

“Wow!” he gasped. “What is this?”

“This is the Glowing Sea,” Marina explained. “These lights are tiny sea creatures called glow worms. They come out at night to play, and they light up the ocean.”

Tommy stared at the lights, mesmerized. They weren’t scary at all; they were beautiful. “It’s like a sea of stars,” he whispered.

Marina smiled. “Exactly. Just like the sky has stars, the sea has its own little lights. And look up there.” She pointed up to the sky, where the moon hung like a big, bright pearl.

“The moon watches over us,” Marina continued. “It lights the way, even in the darkest nights. It’s never too dark when you have the moon and stars.”

Tommy began to feel a little braver. “I never thought about it like that. My room has a window, and I can see the moon too. Maybe it’s watching over me.”

Spark wiggled closer, nudging Tommy’s foot. “And you’re never really alone, Tommy. Even when you can’t see them, you have friends like us thinking about you.”

Marina nodded. “Whenever you feel scared, just close your eyes and think of us. Think of the glowing sea, the gentle waves, and all your friends who care about you.”

Tommy smiled, feeling warm inside. “Thank you, Marina. Thank you, Spark. I feel much better now.”

Marina reached out her hand, and Tommy touched it. For a moment, he felt the soft, cool touch of the water, and he knew he would always remember this night. He would remember the lights, the glowing sea, and the kindness of his new friends.

“It’s time for you to go back home,” Marina said softly. “But don’t worry. The moon will guide you, and we will be right here, keeping watch.”

Tommy nodded. “Goodnight, Marina. Goodnight, Spark.” He waved, and with one last look at the glowing sea, he climbed back up the rocks and walked home.

When Tommy got back to his room, he didn’t feel scared anymore. He opened his window just a crack and looked up at the moon. It was shining brightly, just like Marina said it would.

Tommy snuggled into his bed, pulled his blanket up to his chin, and whispered, “Goodnight, moon. Goodnight, Marina.”

And as he closed his eyes, he felt safe, knowing that even in the darkest night, he was never truly alone.