The Storm

The sun had barely risen when Elena and her grandfather pushed the old boat into the water.

They had fished these waters for years, and Grandpa knew every rock along the coast.

By midday, however, the wind had changed direction and dark clouds were gathering in the west.

The radio crackled with a warning: a storm was moving in faster than anyone had predicted.

Within minutes, waves were crashing over the side, and Elena could barely see the shore.

Grandpa stayed calm. "Hold the rope and keep your eyes on the lighthouse," he said.

Each flash of lightning showed the lighthouse for a second, and Elena steered towards it.

When they finally reached the harbour, half the village had gathered on the beach to look for them.

That night, by the fire, Grandpa admitted that he had been terrified too.

"Being brave," he said, "doesn't mean you're not afraid. It means you keep going anyway."