A Tale of Difficult Emotions – Fear. Aryan and the Shadow in the Hallway

A heartwarming children’s story about fear and courage, following Aryan as he faces the unknown in his school. Perfect for helping kids process and understand fear through relatable storytelling.

 

Aryan was in Class 6 and had just shifted to a new school. Everything was unfamiliar—the teachers, the classrooms, even the lunch smells. But what really got to him was the hallway near the old art room on the second floor.

It was dimly lit, always cold, and had a strange flickering light that buzzed like a sleepy bee. Every time Aryan had to pass it to reach the library, his steps would slow down.

One day, his teacher asked, “Aryan, can you return these books to the library?”

He wanted to say yes, but his heart began to thump—thump thump. “Can I go later?” he asked.

Miss Sinha looked puzzled. “It’ll just take a minute.”

Aryan nodded quietly, took the books, and stood frozen at the edge of the hallway. The light flickered again. And then, a shadow moved.

Pause to reflect:

• Have you ever been scared of a place that others don’t think is scary?

• What do you usually do when you’re afraid?

 

Aryan’s mind ran wild. What if it’s a ghost? What if it drags me inside? He turned back, ready to run—but just then, he heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, you okay?” It was Zara, his classmate. “You look like you saw a zombie.”

He gave a small laugh. “Sort of. That hallway gives me the creeps.”

Zara smiled. “You know what? I used to be scared of it too. But it’s just a broken pipe. It hisses sometimes and makes shadows. Want me to come with you?”

Together, they walked down the hallway. Aryan still felt his heart race, but it wasn’t pounding as hard now. He handed in the books and turned back.

That day, Aryan learned something important:

Fear shrinks when you share it.

Sometimes, all you need is a friend and a little light to see things differently.

 

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