The Nightlight Diaries

Entry 1: The First Night

Hi, it's me, Jamie.

I can’t sleep

Mummy said I should write in a diary if I can't sleep, ‘cause it helps to get your thoughts out. She said I could use this old voice recorder instead 'cause my spelling is pants. So, um... here I am. Talking. To no one. But that’s okay, I think.

I can’t sleep. Again. It’s not that I’m scared or anything. It’s just... my room feels funny. Like it’s too quiet, but also not quiet enough. And the shadows look like they’re moving, even when I don’t blink. But Mummy said it’s just my 'maginashun. She says kids like me have lots of that. Like superpowers.

I have my nightlight on. It’s my favourite one — the star one. It makes my ceiling look like space. Maybe I’ll be an astronaut. Or a zookeeper. Or a nightlight tester. That’d be cool.

Anyway. G’night.

-

Entry 2: The Blanket Monster

Hi again. Night two. Still can’t sleep.

Something moved under my bed last night. I heard it. A scratchy-scratch, like claws on wood. But it stopped when I looked. Maybe it was just Socks, but Socks doesn’t come in my room anymore since that time I tried to give him a haircut.

I checked this morning. Nothing there. Just dust and one of my socks. The blue one with rockets.

Oh, and the corner of my blanket was on the floor. I never leave it like that.

Starlight (that’s what I call my nightlight) flickered. Just once. But it felt like... I don’t know. Like something was watching when it did.

Not scared. Just saying.

-

Entry 3: It’s Not Funny

Okay. Tonight was weird.

I was singing to myself, y’know, to keep the quiet away. And then... something repeated me. Exactly. Same words. Same timing. But not my voice.

I stopped. It stopped.

I asked, "Who’s there?" and my voice sounded teeny tiny.

Nothing answered. But then my bed creaked, even though I wasn’t moving.

I’m not crying. I'm just... breathing loud.

I put my head under the covers. That’s the safest place. Everyone knows monsters can’t get you under the covers.

Starlight stayed on the whole time. Thank you, Starlight.

-

Entry 4: The Whisper

Mummy didn’t believe me. I told her there’s someone whispering at night. She laughed a bit and said it’s just dreams sneaking out early.

But I wasn’t asleep. I swear.

The whisper said my name. Not like a person. Like wind through leaves. All floaty and soft but cold. Real cold.

It said, "Jaaaay... meee..."

And then, "Don't turn the light off."

I haven’t told Daddy. He gets sad when I talk about scary stuff. Ever since Nanna went to sleep forever.

I wish Nanna was here. She’d believe me.

-

Entry 5: Underneath

It touched my foot.

Not like Socks. Not like Mummy or Daddy when they tuck me in. Like something cold. Thin. Like string made of ice.

I screamed. Mummy came running. But the thing was gone. She said maybe I had a dream and didn’t know it.

But I know I was awake. Starlight was still on.

I asked to sleep in her bed. She said no. Said I was getting too old.

But I’m only seven. Isn’t that still small?

-

Entry 6: Starlight Flickered Again

It’s happening more. The flickering. Always when I hear the whisper.

Maybe Starlight is scared, too.

I said to the thing, "Go away." It didn’t go. But it didn’t come closer.

I think it’s stuck in the shadows. Like it can’t come out unless it’s dark.

Maybe that’s why it wants the light off.

Too bad. I’m never turning off Starlight. Never ever.

-

Entry 7: The Conversation

Tonight it talked more.

It said, "I used to have a nightlight, too."

I asked, "What happened to it?"

It said, "It went out. And then I got cold."

I didn’t know what to say. So I said, "Mine’s still on."

It whispered, "Lucky."

I’m not sure if it’s a monster. Monsters don’t get cold. Monsters don’t get sad.

Do they?

-

Entry 8: Mummy Yelled

Mummy found the tape recorder. She listened to one of the recordings. Not all of them, just the one where I said it touched me.

She said it wasn’t funny. That I was scaring her. That I needed to stop playing games.

I told her it wasn’t a game. I cried. She sighed. Then hugged me. But she didn’t say sorry.

She didn’t hear the whisper.

I think grown-ups can’t.

-

Entry 9: It Has a Name

Tonight, I asked it, "What’s your name?"

It was quiet for a long time. I thought it went away. But then...

It whispered, "I forgot. Can I borrow yours?"

I said, "No. It’s mine."

It was quiet again. Then it said, "Okay. Can I stay, though? You’re the only one who talks to me."

I said, "You can stay. But only if you don’t scare me."

It said, "Deal."

Maybe it’s not bad. Maybe it’s just lonely.

-

Entry 10: Sleepy

I’m getting sleepy. I haven’t felt this sleepy in weeks.

The room feels... calm. Like the whisper is a lullaby now. Still spooky. But nice spooky.

Like Halloween decorations, not real ghosts.

Starlight is glowing warm. Not flickering. Just steady. Like a heartbeat.

Maybe I can sleep now.

-

Entry 11: A Game

It told me a story. About when it was small. Said it had a sister. She liked stuffed bears and wrote letters in crayon.

I said, "I write, too!"

It said, "I know. That’s why I picked you."

I asked, "Picked me for what?"

It didn’t answer.

Later, it said, "Let’s play a game. Close your eyes and count to ten."

I didn’t.

I think it’s trying to trick me.

-

Entry 12: The Light Went Out

Tonight Starlight went out.

Just poof. No warning. The dark rushed in like a wave.

I screamed. But not loud. More like a hiccup scream.

Then I felt it. Not just on my foot. All around me. The cold. The whisper. The weight.

It said, "I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just... I miss being warm."

I said, "Me too."

The light came back.

-

Entry 13: Mummy’s Crying

I heard Mummy crying in the kitchen. Daddy said she’s worried. Said I need help.

But I don’t feel broken.

The thing isn’t hurting me. It’s just sad. Like me. Like Mummy.

Maybe we’re all just sad in different ways.

-

Entry 14: The Goodbye

Tonight it said, "You’ve helped me remember."

I asked, "Remember what?"

It said, "That I used to be loved. That I used to laugh. That I wasn’t always in the dark."

I said, "You can stay. I don’t mind."

It whispered, "Thank you. But I think I’m ready to go now. You helped me sleep again. I’ll dream nice things."

I felt warm. Like a blanket hug. Like Nanna’s hugs.

Then the shadows stopped moving.

Starlight glowed brighter than ever.

-

Entry 15: Last Entry

Hi. It’s Jamie.

I slept last night. All the way through.

No whisper. No cold. Just dreams. Nice ones. I saw Nanna. And someone else — a girl with crayon fingers and a teddy bear.

She waved.

Starlight still shines.

I think I’ll stop recording now.

I’m not scared anymore.

Goodnight.