Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

Hello, my brave friend.
My name is Yildiz.
My name means “star.”

But sometimes my light feels very small.

My mother gave me my name when I was still in her belly.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

She often stood on our small balcony and looked over the rooftops of Stuttgart. In her heart she carried the warm nights of Turkey.

And one evening, among all the lights of the city, she saw a single, bright star.

Then she whispered:
“My little star… my Yildiz.”

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

Sometimes I ask my mother: why she chose that particular star. Then she smiles and says:
“Because your light was already there.”

But when night comes, my little light grows quiet.

The darkness feels big much bigger than me.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

When it gets dark outside, my imagination starts to whisper.

The shadows in my room grow longer and bigger. Sometimes they look
as if they’re moving.

Then I feel my little light grow even quieter.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

My grandmother in Turkey gave me a small star amulet.

She said:
“Yildiz, your light is always with you. This amulet just helps you remember.”

When I hold it in my hands, my heart becomes a little calmer.

Oksana and the Shadow of War

At night I lay the star amulet next to my pillow. Sometimes I hold it tightly in my hand when my heart beats faster.

Then the light becomes a little warmer. And so do I.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

Sometimes I wake up in the night, and everything feels silent and huge. Then I hold my amulet tight and breathe in and out slowly.

With every breath my light grows a little bigger.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

Sometimes I even get up to fetch something from the dark room. Before, I would never have dared. But now I whisper to myself:

“I’m not alone.
My light is with me.”

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

The more I hold my amulet, the calmer the night becomes. The shadows are still there, but they feel smaller.

And I… I feel bigger. I’ve learned to trust my heart.

Sometimes the darkness is just a room waiting for my light.

And when I hold my amulet, I feel braver than before.

Yildiz and the Fear of the Dark

Now it’s your turn. I want to give you a star medallion, just like mine. Hold it in your hand when the world feels dark.
Let it remind you:
you carry your own light — always.

You can whisper:

🌟 “I am safe.”
🌟 “I am brave.”
🌟 “I am never alone.”
🌟 “Even in the dark… I shine.”