Once upon a time in a quiet village surrounded by rolling green hills, there lived a curious boy named Oliver. He loved two things more than anything else in the world: stories and stars.
Every night, Oliver would run to the top of the hill behind his house and lie on his back, staring up at the sky. He imagined the stars were tiny lanterns hung by invisible hands. Sometimes, he whispered his wishes to them.
One evening, as the sun melted into shades of orange and pink, Oliver noticed something strange. One star was brighter than the rest. It shimmered and flickered as if it were trying to speak.
Suddenly, the bright star shot across the sky and landed beyond the old oak tree at the edge of the forest.
Oliver's heart pounded with excitement.
Without telling anyone, he grabbed his lantern and hurried toward the forest. The trees seemed taller at night, their shadows stretching like long fingers across the ground. But Oliver was brave.
When he reached the oak tree, he saw a tiny glowing sphere resting in the grass. It wasn't hot like fire. It was warm, like sunlight on a spring morning.
As he stepped closer, the glowing sphere unfolded into a small creature made of light. It had bright silver eyes and a soft humming voice.
"Thank you for coming," the creature said. "I am Lyra. I fell from the sky, and I need your help to return home."
Oliver blinked in amazement. "You're a star?"
Lyra laughed gently. "Not exactly. I help guide them. But I have lost my way."
Oliver didn't hesitate. "I'll help you."
Together, they climbed the hill. Lyra explained that she needed to reach the highest point in the village where the sky touched the earth. The only place high enough was the ancient stone tower near the cliffs.
The journey was not easy. A cold wind began to blow, and dark clouds rolled in. But Lyra's soft glow lit their path, and Oliver's courage kept them moving.
When they finally reached the tower, thunder rumbled in the distance.
"Place me at the top," Lyra said.
Oliver carefully climbed the winding stairs and set Lyra on the highest stone. The moment he stepped back, her light grew brighter and brighter until it filled the sky.
The storm clouds parted.
Lyra rose slowly, becoming a streak of silver light. Before she disappeared, her voice echoed gently in the wind.
"Whenever you look at the stars, remember—you are braver than you think."
From that night on, one star always shone a little brighter above the village.
And whenever Oliver felt afraid or unsure, he would look up at the sky, smile, and remember the night he helped a star find its way home..