My personal nightlight

A phone call wakes you out of your stupor. The caller was June, your shy but well-meaning friend. Though it was late in the evening, you wondered why she’s calling so late.

You answered the phone.

H-hey, I have a favour to ask you. Would you meet me in the p-park tonight? T-there's a spot I wanted to p-paint at. But I'm uncomfortable doing it alone and at night. S-so I thought you w-would be the best for t-this, to, umm, s-stay by my side until I'm done painting. I only ask you this once. Umm, p-please?

Her stammering voice carried through the phone call. It’s always the cutest part about her. Always makes you want to protect this girl no matter what.

“Okay June. I’ll meet you there, when’s this."

“O-oh, about half an hour f-from now. But great! I-I'll meet you there with my p-paints and stuff. Umm, c-could you bring a chair please? Thank you.”

You arrive at the spot where June told you to be at. The park had this ethereal calmness to it, especially when no was around. The long stretch of grass, the tall trees and moon and stars shining above would be a perfect to paint. You put aside the chair on the ground. The wind was starting to get chilly; you had your coat on.

You see June holding a canvas and an easel.

"H-hi. S-sorry you had to come this way. It's j-just that this is something I wanted to do for a w-while but never got the opportunity. A-and I was too afraid to do it s-solo, so please forgive me for being s-selfish to ask you here."

You look at her with feign offense, “June, I’m your friend. I’ll always if you need me.”

She blushed, “O-oh. T-thank you.”

She sets up the canvas and started painting. The stars shine bright above you, the moon brightening the park around you.

“Look at the n-night sky. Isn't it beautiful? This is why I w-wanted to come here, t-this is the o-only spot where I can capture this moment. I’m glad I got to d-do this."

You stand by June's side as she painted the night sky onto her canvas. You find it to be peaceful with nothing but the rustling of the winds and the harsh strokes of the paintbrush to fill the silence.

“Y’know, June, I was always curious, why are you so afraid of the dark? What happened that makes you not want to go at night? I know as a friend that I should know but you never really talk about it.”

June stopped.

“O-oh, uhhh it’s just t-that no one really asked that q-question, so I never really bother e-explaining it. B-but to put it simply, my house had a b-blackout during the winter when I was l-little. And I was playing in my room w-when it happened. A-and I happened to t-trip on one of the clothes hangers and it f-fell on top of me. I-I screamed and cried thinking it was a monster u-until my Mum pulled me out and calmed me.”

June continued painting, the canvas nearly at its finished state.

“E-ever since, I refused to sleep without a nightlight. T-thinking that a monster would come out and e-eat me. I-I know that sounds c-childish but I was little b-back then. It was really scary. A-and even after all these y-years, I’m still somewhat afraid of the d-dark. P-please tease me about that, it’s just the dark still g-gives me the creeps.”

“And I’m the solution to your fear?” you ask.

Small blush crept up on her cheeks.

“W-well, you are my c-closest friend. I w-wouldn’t ask anyone to do this with. F-for some reason though, y-you always calm me with y-your presence. It’s hard to describe but whenever I’m with you, i-it feels like my nerves no longer s-shot up when I’m in the d-dark. It’s like you’re my p-personal nightlight.”

Silence filled the air. She suddenly jolt with a very beet red face, almost dropping her paintbrush.

“W-w-wait t-that's not w-what I-I-I meant! I m-mean that you're a r-reliable friend. Yeah, that's it. P-please forget what I said earlier."

"'My personal nightlight?'" you tease. Hoping to get a reaction.

The blush on June's face deepens, she groans, "I-it was a slip of the t-tongue. I wasn't thinking s-straight. The cold was g-getting to me."

Now that she mentioned it, the wind was starting to pick up, and you felt the temperature drop sharply. June started to shiver heavily.

"I-I-I s-shouldn't said t-t-that. N-now I'm f-freezing."

You realise she hadn’t brought her coat, if she stays in this weather for any longer, she’ll be ill. You decided to give your coat to June. Wrapping her shoulders with it.

June, realising what you've done, blushes again.

"Y-you really didn't have to do t-that. Y-you'll be sick. I s-should've brought mine so you d-didn't have to cover for me."

It was freezing but not something life-threatening. You could handle it.

"June, it's fine,” you say to ease her worries.

"B-but... Okay. I'll f-finish the painting," June relents.

She finishes the painting with the final stroke, and it came out better than you imagined. She perfectly captured all of the bright stars in the sky while maintaining their lustre. It’s almost as beautiful as her.

As she finished, she stood before you.

“T-thank you for coming here and d-doing this for me. I-I’m sorry that I m-made you walk all this way f-for me, especially in the cold.”

She takes off the coat hangs it back to you.

“June, keep it. I saw you freezing in this frigid cold and I’d hate to you see sick. Please just keep it when you get home. I’ll be fine.”

You pat her head, though you don’t remember asking your to do that, it just happened on its own. You quickly pulled it back and awkwardly stood there. June was silent but you could see a wide grin on her face.

“T-thank you. F-for being my n-nightlight. Anyway, see you t-tomorrow!!

June left and you leave too.

As you went home, you sneeze alot more than necessary.