In a little house surrounded by tall oak trees, there lived a girl named [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ). She was kind-hearted and loved to read, but she was also scared of many things—big dogs, loud noises, and making new friends.

Her mother, warm and caring, protected her from the world. She walked [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) to school every day, made her favorite strawberry pancakes, and told her bedtime stories about courage.

But no matter how much her mother tried, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ)'s fear followed her everywhere. At her new school, the children teased her because she always sat alone in the corner, too scared to join their games.

One day, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ)’s mother gave her a beautiful lantern. 'This lantern holds a spark of bravery,' her mother said kindly. 'Whenever you feel afraid, just hold it close and remember, the light inside you is stronger than any fear.'

That night, as the moon rose high and bright, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) held the lantern tightly. She whispered, 'I wish I could be brave,' and to her surprise, the lantern glowed brighter, wrapping her in a soft golden light.

The next morning, she carried the lantern to school. It wasn’t magic, but somehow it gave her courage to talk to a girl named [Sophie](6DZ4DD9J). [Sophie](6DZ4DD9J) smiled and invited her to play at recess.

Day by day, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) found her bravery growing. Soon, she was reading stories aloud in class, helping other kids with math problems, and even standing up when she felt something wasn’t fair.

Years later, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) became someone new. She carried the lessons of kindness and courage in her heart, sharing her light with others who were scared, just like she had been once.

And though the lantern sat proudly on her shelf, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) knew the spark of bravery it gave her had been with her all along, hidden in her heart, waiting to bloom.

Once a scared little girl, [Lila](HZ7ZJZFJ) now shone like a guiding star, proving that courage, like a lantern, could light up even the darkest of days.