🌙 Goodnight, Everything

Little Dusk did not want to go to bed. "I'm not even a tiny bit sleepy," he said, as his mouth opened in a great big yawn.

His mother smiled and opened the curtains. The moon was peeking over the rooftops, round and kind. "Let's say goodnight to everything," she said.

"Goodnight, garden," whispered Dusk. The flowers had folded their petals like little hands. "Goodnight, trees." The leaves rustled softly, as if they were whispering back.

"Goodnight, owl." The owl blinked his round eyes and settled on his branch. "Goodnight, mice." The mice were already curled up in their nest, tails wrapped around their noses.

"Goodnight, stars," said Dusk, and he counted three of them before his eyes felt heavy, like two little pebbles.

"Goodnight, moon," he mumbled. The moon seemed to glow a little softer, like a nightlight in the sky.

His mother tucked his tail around him and gave him a gentle lick between the ears. Dusk began to purr, slow and deep, like a tiny boat rocking on calm water.

"I'm still not sleepy," he whispered. But he was already dreaming.