It was one of those nights when the stars were twinkling, the moon was full and rolling like a big silver ball across the sky, and everything breathed peace and quiet. Well, peace and quiet for most people – for Zoe it was a completely different matter.

Zoe was 8 years old, with big, curious eyes and an imagination that could fill an entire storybook. She loved staying up late. When night fell, it felt like the world still had so much to offer! But her parents were absolutely adamant when it came to bedtime. No matter how much Zoe tried to charm her way through as Plan A, and protested and complained loudly as Plan B, and tried to negotiate as Plan C, her parents’ response was always the same: “It’s bedtime, Zoe – period!” So ​​you need your sleep.

This night was no exception. Zoe sat in her bed under a soft duvet as her parents said goodnight. But as soon as they left the room, she could feel her heart beating a little faster. Without warning, a strange feeling surged forward, as if an invisible shadow was lurking in the corners of the room. It wasn’t that she actually saw anything dangerous… yet it felt like something wasn’t quite right.

What her parents didn't know was that Zoe had made a new friend, Braveheart. He was a small, light purple creature with glittering fur and big, warm eyes that only Zoe could see. He originally came from the planet Valoria, where everything was magical and full of color – but now, when he visited Earth, it was usually to calm children who were scared or worried.

The moment Zoe closed her eyes and tried to force her thoughts away from the strange feeling in her stomach, she heard a soft whisper:

“Zoe… psst, Sooooee…”

She opened her eyes and saw a small, purple ball of fur floating gently in front of her bed. Braveheart always started by making a silly face and making Zoe laugh and she made a silly face back. He looked at her with his lovely warm smile. “Hey Zoe,” he said, “I could tell you needed me.”

Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. “Braveheart! I’m so glad to see you! I don’t know what’s wrong with me – I just feel insecure, and I hate going to bed when it still feels like the day isn’t even over!”

Braveheart nodded in understanding. “You know what, Zoe? It’s completely normal to have that feeling. It’s not dangerous at all. But sometimes, when we don’t understand what’s going on in our heads and hearts, it can feel scary—almost like an invisible monster.”

Zoe pulled her knees up to her chin. "An invisible monster? You mean like a troll or a ghost?"

Braveheart smiled warmly and shook his head.

“Not really. This monster isn’t a troll with long nails or a ghost that says ‘boo.’ It’s more of a feeling – a kind of anxiety. And it can feel big and dangerous, even though it’s actually completely harmless.” and you imagine all sorts of things in your head. Zoe swallowed hard. “So it’s some kind of monster that lives inside me?”

No no no, it's all just imagination and the fear of the unknown, Braveheart replied mildly, "but it won't hurt you. It's just coming to tell you that there's something you need to be aware of. Feelings aren't dangerous, Zoe – they're like little messengers that want you to listen to them. Sometimes they can be hard to understand, but they always want you to take care of yourself."

Zoe looked around the room cautiously, as if expecting to catch a glimpse of the invisible monster. “So… what do I do about it? Because it really doesn’t feel good.”

Braveheart hovered closer. “Have you ever played hide-and-seek?”

“Um, yes, of course!” said Zoe.

“Then you probably know how exciting it is to look for someone who is hiding. The invisible monster is a bit like a good friend who is hiding somewhere in your heart and head. But instead of running away from it, you should find it and say: 'Hey, I can see you. I know you are there, but you don't have to scare me. I just want to understand why you are hiding.'”

Zoe looked at Braveheart in confusion. “How do I talk to an emotion?”

Braveheart made a face that made Zoe giggle. “You can talk to it with your thoughts, with your heart—sometimes just by taking a deep breath and asking yourself, ‘What am I feeling right now?’ And believe me, once you give it space, it stops seeming so dangerous.”

Braveheart suggested that they do a little experiment. “We can make up a little story together about the invisible monster. For example: The monster is called Fnugborg. That’s not a scary name, is it?”

Zoe laughed. “Fluffy? It sounds more like a cat having the hiccups!”

"Exactly," Braveheart said, laughing. "When we name our anxiety something funny, it immediately becomes a little less scary. So imagine that Fawn is sitting on your shoulder right now. What does Fawn look like?"

Zoe closed her eyes and began to describe: “He might be a tiny, soft figure, with big eyes and a funny belly. And he clings to me because he’s actually just a little unsure about the whole thing.”

“Perfect,” said Braveheart. “And what do you say to Fnugborg?”

“I would probably say, 'Hey Fluffy, I know you're making me a little nervous right now, but I want to help you. Let's sit here together, and then I'll tell you that everything is okay, even though it's bedtime.'”

Braveheart clapped his hands. “That was amazing, Zoe! When you talk to Fluffy like that, you take back the power. Then anxiety isn’t something dangerous – it’s something you can embrace and deal with.”

Suddenly, Braveheart's fur began to sparkle extra brightly. "Zoe," he whispered, "do you want to come on a little journey? I can show you where anxiety disappears when you take loving care of it."

Zoe nodded eagerly. “How do we do that?”

With a smile, Braveheart placed a soft paw on Zoe's forehead, and immediately the room lit up, and everything around them began to smell of starry night and fresh dreams. Zoe closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she stood in a luminous forest on Valoria.

Here the trees were painted in the colors of the rainbow, and little flashes of light flew around like jumping fireflies. Crystal-clear rivers ran beneath the leaves of the trees, and everything exuded a peaceful, magical atmosphere.

“Wow,” Zoe whispered. “How beautiful this is.”

Braveheart pointed to a small clearing where a purple haze danced in the air. “Look,” he said, “over there is the Source Cave. It is where troubled emotions are cleansed and transformed into new ideas and dreams. Do you want to see?”

Zoe nodded. She felt a tickling sensation in her stomach, but not from fear – more from excitement. Together they walked to the clearing, and in the middle was a small well of light. When Zoe looked down into it, she saw her own reflection: a face that was calm, but at the same time curious. Next to her in the mirror, Fudge appeared in miniature form, and he waved.

“It’s our invisible monster,” Braveheart said. “Or should I say, your new friend. He’s not here to scare you—he’s here to tell you that your feelings matter. Even when they feel uncomfortable.”

With a flash of purple light, Zoe was suddenly back in her room. Everything looked the same as before, but she felt lighter somehow – as if she had left some of her fears behind in the magical forest.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Braveheart, who was sitting on the pillow. “Braveheart,” she said quietly, “thank you for showing me the Spring Cave. I don’t feel scared the same way now. But what will I do tomorrow night when I go to sleep again, and I feel a little uneasy?”

Braveheart looked at her and said. “You remember Fuzz. You remind yourself that you are not in danger – you are just feeling something strong right now, and that is okay. You can think that Braveheart is always with you, even when you can’t see me. And if the anxiety comes back and feels scary, you can take a deep breath and say, ‘Hey Fuzz, I know you are there, but you can take it easy – everything is fine.’”

Zoe smiled. “Do you think it works?”

“I know it works,” Braveheart said lovingly. “Because you are stronger than you think. And fear—or that invisible monster—is not there to harm you. It is a part of being human, just like joy, anger, and surprise. Once you learn to talk to it, it loses its dangerous power.”

And remember that I have a very special energy that all creatures are afraid of, so no one dares come near me, they actually run away screaming.

A new way to fall asleep
 At that moment, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and Zoe's mother poked her head in. "I thought you were asleep, honey," she said, quietly stepping in. Zoe smiled and pulled the covers up around her.

“I was just about to fall asleep,” she said. “Mom, can I tell you about Fluffy Castle?”

Her mother looked at her in surprise. "Fluffy? Who is that?"

Zoe hesitated a little, knowing that her mother couldn't see Braveheart or Fuzz. "It's just... a little friend I have. He shows up when I'm worried. I've decided to be friends with him instead of being afraid."

Her mother smiled warmly. “That sounds like a really good idea, honey. I’m glad you found something that helps you.”

She kissed Zoe on the forehead and turned off the light. Zoe could tell she wasn’t as scared as she had been. Yes, she might still be a little unsure, but a good kind of unsure—like an explorer ready to explore new places in her dreams.

Zoe closed her eyes and felt a calmness spread through her body. She could almost see Fluffy sitting there, slapping his legs on her shoulder, and hear Braveheart's calm voice: "Remember, if you get scared, just say hello to Fluffy and tell him that you're friends and that you're not scared. Then fear won't feel so scary anymore."

Soon Zoe was on her way to dreamland. Maybe she wanted to visit Valoria again tonight, maybe she wanted to see the Spring Cave and jump around in the rainbow trees. Who knows? In any case, she knew that she was no longer alone with her anxiety. She had Braveheart – and she had Fluff, the little invisible monster, who was not really a monster, but a feeling that just needed a name and a friendly smile.

And so Zoe fell asleep, her heart light and a cautious smile on her lips. What had previously made her nervous now seemed less threatening – she had learned that emotions were not dangerous, but were just little messengers that told her something about what was going on inside. And with Braveheart by her side and Fluffy on her shoulder, she slept soundly and dreamed of new, magical adventures.

Good night and sleep well – and remember that even invisible monsters can turn out to be some of your best friends, if you just dare to look them in the eye.

You can listen to the story on Spotify here .