Aarav’s heart pounded against his chest as he sat cramped inside the cupboard. The darkness was suffocating, wrapping around him like a tight, inescapable blanket. He could barely move, his legs tucked uncomfortably beneath him, and every sound from the outside world seemed distant and muffled. Panic surged through him as he remembered his fear of the dark. He started shouting for help, his voice echoing inside the small space.

“Help! Somebody, please! Let me out!” His cries grew more desperate with each passing minute, but no one came. The muffled sounds of laughter and conversation from the living room only intensified his feeling of isolation.