Nightlight

I can not remember a time that I wasn’t afraid of the dark. The light had always been my friend. Even now in my mid thirties I still vividly remember the night I called my dad in the middle of the night afraid of the dark. That night, a nightlight was placed by my bed. He explained it would keep me safe from the monsters. He was right.

No one said much about my fears as a child. I went about my young life, playing in the sun and no longer fearing the dark, safe with my nightlight. When I was about ten my sister started to laugh at my need for the light, but my parents told her not to and that was the end of it.

It only started becoming an issue in my pre teenage years. When sleepovers were popular and nightlights were an old memory for most children my age. When I asked my parents if I could go, my mom said I would have to go in the dark. She explained that kids my age did not need nightlights. I asked if I could bring a camping lamp, she said no. I did not want to go. My dad explained sleepovers were not safe even with a lamp or nightlight a child or parent could turn it off. I understood, they were just trying to keep me safe.

Before I started college I heard my parents arguing. My mom insisted I should live on campus. She said that I was too old for my childhood fears. How would I ever meet someone to spend the rest of my life with, if I had this silly fear. My dad told her she loved him with his fear. She was quiet after that.

Two years into college I met my love. She was perfect for me in every way. She loved ice cream sundays, fishing, and deep conversations on long walks. She did not care about my need for light.

When we moved in together, one year later; she kept a nightlight on her side of the bed too. She kept flashlights and candles in her nightstand in case of power outages. She never laughed or made fun of me, she never questioned my fear. She didn’t understand; but she still took it seriously.

When our daughter was born she put a nightlight in the room. It was sweet, she kept it in there even when she started to insist she was not afraid of the dark. I told my wife it was fine, if she did not ask for the light she didn’t need it. My wife said it was alright, she knew that more light made me feel safe. She said that as long as our daughter was young we would keep the light in her room.

Our son was born five years ago now. Our second perfect child. My wife put a nightlight in his room too. I breathed a sigh of relief. Last night he called me into his room. He had tears in his eyes and was staring at the corner. I looked where he was looking and as expected I saw glowing eyes and a tall figure watching him hungrily. My stomach dropped at the inevitable truth I already knew, he saw them too.

I sat down next to him and hugged him tight. I told my son not to worry. I explained to him that with a light close by the monster could not get to him. The light would keep him safe, as it had for me.