Ella was having a great time on the playground. Her curly brown hair bounced as she ran from the swings to the slides, her energy seemingly endless. But inside, she felt something strange. It was like a balloon filling up with air in her chest. "I don't know why, but I feel like I might burst," she whispered to her friend, Sam.

Sam looked concerned. His bright blue eyes searched Ella's face. "What do you mean, Ella?" he asked, sitting down in the cool shade. Ella sat beside him, fiddling with a blade of grass. "It's like I'm happy and sad and excited all at once. It's so confusing!" she admitted, her voice a mix of frustration and bewilderment.

Sam nodded thoughtfully. He picked up a small stick and started drawing in the dirt. "My mom says when I feel a lot of things, it helps to talk about them or draw them," he suggested, sketching a small heart and a squiggly line beside it. Ella watched, intrigued. "Maybe I can draw my feelings too," she mused, picking up her own stick.

Ella drew a big yellow sun for happiness, a blue cloud for sadness, and a red zigzag for excitement. As she drew, the tightness in her chest began to loosen. She smiled at Sam, feeling lighter. "I think it's working. I feel like I can breathe again," she said, a sense of relief washing over her.

Sam smiled back, proud of Ella. "Look how brave you are, facing those big feelings," he encouraged. Ella nodded, her heart full of gratitude and newfound confidence. "Thanks, Sam. I'm glad I talked to you," she said, realizing that sharing her emotions helped them feel less overwhelming.

Ella and Sam walked home together, their shadows trailing behind them. Ella felt proud of herself for understanding her emotions a little better. "Tomorrow, I'll tell more of my friends about drawing their feelings. Maybe it will help them too," she decided, her voice full of hope and determination.