Lila knelt beside her bed, her head bowed in silent prayer. The moonlight pooled on the floor, casting a gentle glow over her delicate features. The soft murmur of her voice was almost musical, a soothing rhythm that filled the room with a sense of peace.
A sudden creak from the shadows snapped Lila out of her reverie. Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze, listening intently. The noise seemed to come from the far corner of the room, where the darkness was thickest.
"Who's there?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
A figure emerged from the shadows, barely visible in the dim light. It was a young boy, with tousled hair and eyes that reflected the moonlight. Eli, one of the orphans who shared the crumbling building with her, stepped forward hesitantly.
"It's just me, Lila," he said softly. Eli looked around nervously, as if expecting someone else to appear.
Lila let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Eli, you scared me," she said, a small smile breaking through her initial fear.
"I'm sorry," Eli replied, shuffling his feet. "I heard you praying. I didn't mean to intrude, but... I thought maybe I could join you."
Lila nodded, her heart warming at the thought of having a companion in her nightly prayers. "Of course, Eli," she said gently. They both knelt together, their whispered words mingling in the darkness.
As their whispers filled the room, the shadows seemed to recede, leaving only the soft glow of moonlight and the warmth of their shared hope. Lila and Eli prayed for a better tomorrow, comforted by the knowledge that they were not alone in their dreams.
