
Though something luminous lives within him, Ethan fears the dark. Light always draws the shadows.
There’s something about him that feels different—like he carries a secret in his eyes. They’re wide, alert… as if both sparks and shadows were alive inside them. Sometimes it looks like he’s listening to things no one else can hear.
He’s not the kind of kid who makes friends easily. Ethan keeps to himself, unsure, nervous, more comfortable in his own imagination than in the real world. In his head, he’s fearless—invincible, like a superhero who can stand up to anything. And when he can’t escape into daydreams, he draws. His notebook is full of strange creatures and wild adventures, each page a window into the worlds he carries inside. Still, he has his joys.
He loves swinging at the park, feeling the rush of air on his face, watching the sky glow as the sun comes up. His favorite color is mustard yellow—warm, safe, like sunlight. More than anyone, Ethan looks up to his grandmother: loving yet strong, the one who makes him feel protected. Her apple pie, with its sweet smell filling the kitchen, is one of the few things that make him feel completely at home.
He never sleeps without his night-light plugged in. Still, the darkness doesn’t leave him alone. It waits, watching… and before long, Ethan will have to face the truth: his greatest fear isn’t the dark at all.