Ella and the Shadow Messages

There was once a girl named Ella who loved spending time on ChatChime, a magical app where her friends shared art, stories, and jokes. One day, as she scrolled through her feed, she noticed something strange under a painting Zara had posted—a shadowy comment that seemed to pulse with an eerie glow.

“This is awful,” it said. “Why do you even bother posting?”

Ella frowned. Zara’s painting was beautiful, a dreamy landscape of swirling colors and stars. She wanted to write something kind to counter the mean comment, but her fingers froze above her keyboard.

What if the person who wrote the shadow comment came after her, too? Ella quickly scrolled past, hoping someone else would stand up for Zara.

The next day, Ella saw another shadowy comment under Zara’s post. “You’re not as good as you think you are.” Zara hadn’t responded, but Ella noticed her friend didn’t post anything new that day.

Guilt began to gnaw at Ella. She could see Zara retreating, her usual enthusiasm fading. Still, Ella hesitated. “I don’t want to be the next target,” she whispered to herself.

That night, Ella couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined Zara reading those mean comments, feeling hurt and alone. Ella knew she had to do something, but what? She wasn’t brave enough to face the shadow sender alone.

The next day, Ella decided to seek help from the Keeper of ChatChime, an ancient digital being named Lumina who resided deep within the app’s magical code. Her journey to find Lumina was not easy; she navigated winding paths of shifting light and overcame challenges that tested her courage. Along the way, fragments of encouraging messages floated by, reminding her she wasn’t alone and giving her the strength to continue.

When Ella finally found Lumina, she asked in a soothing voice, “Why have you come?”

“My friend Zara is being bullied by someone sending shadow messages,” Ella admitted. “I didn’t do anything to stop it, and now I feel terrible. I want to help, but I’m scared they’ll come after me, too.”

Lumina’s eyes dropped slightly, as if sharing Ella’s sorrow. “Many feel afraid when faced with unkindness,” she said. “But there are ways to help without putting yourself in harm’s way. Let me teach you three powerful spells to defeat the shadow messages.”

Lumina waved her hand, and three shimmering scrolls appeared.

“First,” Lumina said, pointing to the Shield of Silence, “Don't respond in anger or fear when you receive a shadow message. Shadow senders want a reaction. By not replying, you weaken their power.”

Ella nodded, imagining herself holding a bright, glowing shield to block the darkness.

“Second,” Lumina continued, gesturing to the Beacon of Support, “stand by them if you see a friend being targeted. Send kind and supportive messages to drown out the shadows. Together, your light will always outshine the dark.”

Ella felt a spark of determination. She could do that for Zara.

“And finally,” Lumina said, pointing to the Scroll of Reporting, “use the tools within the app to report harmful messages and block shadow senders. The app’s magic grows stronger when people work together to create a safe space.”

Armed with these spells, Ella thanked Lumina and returned to ChatChime. She opened Zara’s latest post and typed a message: “Your painting is amazing! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Soon, others joined in, filling Zara’s feed with kindness and encouragement.

Next, Ella activated the Shield of Silence on her own posts, staying calm and quiet when she saw a shadow message appear. Then, she used the Scroll of Reporting to alert the app’s guardians about the harmful comments, even if they were about someone else.

Finally, Ella sent Zara a private message, using the Beacon of Support. “I saw those mean comments,” she wrote. “I’m so sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. You’re such a talented artist, and I’m here if you ever want to talk.”

Zara replied almost instantly. “Thank you, Ella. I’ve been feeling so down, but your message means so much. I was afraid no one cared.”

The shadow comments stopped appearing after that. Zara began sharing her art again, her confidence slowly returning. And Ella learned an important lesson: even small actions—kind words, standing by a friend, or using reporting tools—could make a big difference.

From then on, Ella promised herself she’d never stay silent again.