The night was unusually dark and quiet when Cubis realized that everyone had gone out. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house, leaving behind an unsettling silence. The little monkey sat by the window, clutching his favorite blanket, his wide eyes glancing nervously around. He had never been left alone this late before.
At first, Cubis tried to be brave. He turned on the small lamp in the living room and sat on the couch, hugging his stuffed toy tightly. “I’m fine,” he whispered to himself, trying to sound confident. But every little sound — the ticking clock, the creak of the wooden floor, even the rustle of leaves outside — made him jump.
When the wind blew against the windows, the curtains swayed, and Cubis quickly hid behind a pillow. “Maybe it’s just the wind,” he muttered, though his tiny hands trembled. He missed Mom and Dad’s comforting voices, the soft hum of the TV, and the warmth of the family around him. The loneliness wrapped around him like a cold blanket.
He decided to distract himself by turning on the small radio, hoping the music would make the silence less scary. But just as a song began to play, a loud thud came from the kitchen. Cubis froze. His heart raced as he tiptoed to peek — only to find that an apple had rolled off the counter. He let out a nervous laugh, “Oh, silly apple… you scared me!”
To calm himself, Cubis brewed some warm milk the way Mom usually did. The familiar smell helped him relax. He wrapped himself in his blanket, curled up on the couch, and watched the moonlight shimmer through the window.
When Mom and Dad finally returned, they found Cubis fast asleep, clutching his stuffed toy, with the milk cup still beside him. Mom smiled softly and kissed his forehead. “Our brave little Cubis,” she whispered.
That night, Cubis learned that even though being alone can be scary, courage can grow quietly — one small heartbeat at a time.
