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A scared Alex sitting on his bed in a dark room, tightly hugging Charlie (a brown stuffed bear with a red bowtie). Lightning visible through the window.
Alex sat on his bed, hugging Charlie tightly. The storm outside was loud, but the storm inside the house was louder. Alex's parents were arguing again, and it made him feel scared. He wished he could be like Charlie, calm and quiet. Alex closed his eyes, imagining a place where the sun always shone.
A tired and sad Alex sitting at a school desk, Mrs. Rivera (a woman with shoulder-length black hair wearing a floral dress) kneeling beside him with a gentle smile.
The next day at school, Alex felt tired and sad. His teacher, Mrs. Rivera, noticed and asked if he was okay. Alex shrugged, not sure how to explain the storm at home. Mrs. Rivera smiled gently and said, 'Sometimes, talking about it helps.' She introduced Alex to Mr. Davis, the school counselor.
Alex sitting in a comfortable chair in an office, holding Charlie (brown stuffed bear with red bowtie) while Mr. Davis (a man with glasses and grey sweater) sits across from him with a kind expression.
In Mr. Davis's office, Alex sat with Charlie on his lap. Mr. Davis listened as Alex talked about the loud nights. 'You have a brave heart, Alex,' Mr. Davis said kindly. Alex felt a little lighter, like a small sunbeam had found its way inside him. Mr. Davis suggested writing down feelings in a journal.
Alex writing in a blue journal at his desk, Charlie (brown stuffed bear with red bowtie) propped up next to him. Sunlight streaming through the window.
Back home, Alex started writing in his new journal. He wrote about the storm, but also about the sunshine he found with Mrs. Rivera and Mr. Davis. Slowly, the yelling nights felt less scary. Alex learned that even when storms come, there can be calm and hope afterward. And with Charlie by his side, he knew he could face anything.