The young mother watched her eldest son, her heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and anxiety. She had expected many answers, but what came out of her son’s mouth was something she could never have predicted.
“Mom,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, “I’m protecting him.”
The mother’s heart skipped a beat. Protecting him? The house was safe, their neighborhood peaceful. From what could her son possibly think he needed to protect his baby brother? She knelt down beside him, her voice gentle yet firm.
“Protecting him from what, sweetheart?” she asked, searching his eyes for some clue, some hint of the imagined danger that had driven her son to this daily ritual.
The boy hesitated, looking down at his little brother who was blissfully unaware of the conversation happening around him. Finally, he spoke again, his eyes filled with a seriousness that seemed far beyond his years.
“From the shadows,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “They come at night. I see them, Mom. They try to touch him.”
A chill ran down the mother’s spine. Shadows? She tried to remain calm, not wanting to alarm her son even further. She knew children had vivid imaginations, but this seemed different. His words carried a weight that suggested he truly believed what he was saying.
“Sweetie, shadows can’t hurt your brother,” she said gently, rubbing his back. “They’re just tricks of the light.”
Her son shook his head. “No, these are different. They move, Mom. They move like… like they’re alive. And in the morning, they’re gone, but they always come back.”
The mother sat back on her heels, unsure of what to say. How could she reassure her son when she couldn’t see what he saw? She realized she needed to approach this carefully, to understand his fears without dismissing them outright.
“How long have you been seeing these shadows?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her son thought for a moment. “Since the baby came home,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to scare you or Dad. But they keep coming, and I have to make sure he’s safe.”
His earnestness tugged at her heart, and she pulled him into a hug, his little brother nestled between them. She whispered soothing words, assuring him that they would figure it out together.
That night, after putting the boys to bed, she discussed everything with her husband. They agreed to install a nightlight in the baby’s room and reassured their eldest that he could always come to them if he felt scared. They also made sure to spend more time with him, listening and engaging, hoping to ease any fears simmering in his young mind.
Over time, the shadows seemed to lose their grip on the boy’s imagination. Whether it was the nightlight or simply the comfort of being heard and understood, the six o’clock ritual gradually faded. The parents remained vigilant, aware now of the depth of love and responsibility their eldest carried for his brother.
As the days turned into months, the incident became a fond family story, a testimony to the protective instincts of an older sibling. Yet, for the mother, it was also a reminder of the unseen battles children sometimes face, and the extraordinary ways they show love.