BRAVE Like the Wind

BRAVE LIKE the WIND By F.T.Kolbaba

"I always wondered what it felt like to be brave", said Arlo.

When my friends climbed high or ran off into shadows, I'd stay back, watching, hoping I'd feel brave one day too. I wanted to be bold and free, like the wind, sweeping over the fields without a single worry.

One quiet afternoon, I stood in a wide, open field, holding a wooden staff I found. A question slipped right out of me, one I'd been holding inside for so long.

"How far do you go, Wind?" I whispered.

The air grew still, as if everything was listening. Then, from the tip of my staff, a soft breeze wrapped around me, gentle and light, like it had been waiting all along.

"Oh, as far as you'd like to go," it whispered. "But to be brave like me, you'll need to find a little bit of courage at each step."

I nodded, feeling a spark inside. "I'm ready."

The wind swirled ahead, leading me to a steep, tall hill that seemed to touch the sky. I looked up, my heart beating fast.

"Bravery starts with courage," the wind said softly. "When you try something new, courage shows you the way."

I paused, feeling the warmth of the wind beside me.

"Do you feel a little courage inside you?" it asked, its voice gentle and kind.

I thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I think I do." I took a deep breath, each step filling me with warmth, like a sunrise inside. By the time I reached the top, I felt it—courage was with me, bold and strong.

The hill was behind us now, but a rushing river lay ahead, its wild waters laughing as they splashed over rocks.

"Trust your courage," the wind whispered close. "Feel the strength inside yourself."

I took a step closer, my toes sinking into the ground. The river roared, but I stood tall.

"What makes you feel strong?" the wind asked, brushing my cheek like a soft touch.

I thought of the hill I had climbed and the courage I had found. "I feel strong because I didn't give up."

Then, I took a leap, laughing as I splashed to the other side. I'd trusted my courage, and it hadn't let me down.

As the day stretched on, shadows grew, and a small worry began to creep in.

"Will you stay with me when it's dark?" I asked.

The wind wrapped around me, warm and gentle. "I'm with you always," it promised, "but so is the light inside you. Sometimes being brave means finding your own light when all you see is shadow."

We wandered into the woods, where fireflies blinked and stars sparkled above.

"Look around," the wind whispered. "Magic is in the world, and it's in you, too."

I gazed up, my heart filling with wonder. The stars seemed to wink back, and I realized the magic of bravery was all around me.

Then, we reached a cave, dark and still, its entrance waiting. I hesitated, staring into the unknown.

"What if I get lost?" I whispered.

The wind drifted close. "You have courage, trust, and light. Being brave means knowing you carry everything you need inside you."

I looked into the shadows, feeling the quiet strength inside me.

"What helps you feel safe when you're afraid?" the wind asked, giving me a gentle nudge.

I took a deep breath and whispered, "I feel safe when I remember the courage I've found and the light I carry." With my heart steady, I took a step, then another, feeling my way forward.

Ahead, a soft glow appeared, pulling me forward. As I stepped into the light, I knew I was brave, brave like the wind.

When we stopped to rest, the wind wrapped around me, gentle and warm. "You did well today," it said. "Now it's time to rest."

Before I knew it, I was home, snug in my bed, the covers warm around me. The wind whispered once more, "Sleep now, little one. I'm always near."

I woke in the stillness of the night, wondering if it had all been a dream. Then I heard a faint creak. The window, slightly open, swayed with the breeze, and a soft gust slipped through, whispering, "Trust yourself."

And I knew then, I wasn't brave because the wind was near. I was brave because I'd found courage, trust, and light inside myself.

I was brave, brave like YOU.

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