A Time I Felt Particularly Frightened - Merchant Taylors’ School 11+

I used to think the dark was frightening only when you imagined something hiding in it. Then, one winter evening, I discovered that darkness could be frightening all by itself.

I was walking home from my friend’s house when the streetlights suddenly went out. One moment, the pavement was shining under a row of orange lamps; the next, the whole road had disappeared into shadow.

I stopped. The wind rattled the bare branches above me. Somewhere behind a garden fence, a dog barked, and my heart began to race. I could still see the dim outline of the houses, but every ordinary sound seemed louder than before.

My first instinct was to run. Instead, I took out my phone and rang Dad. He answered immediately and reminded me that I was only two streets from home. Keeping to the familiar pavement, I walked carefully towards the light from a corner shop. The shopkeeper let me stand inside until Dad arrived.

When I saw his coat through the glass, relief washed over me. Nothing terrible had happened, but I will never forget how quickly a familiar street had become strange. I learnt that being brave does not mean feeling no fear; sometimes it means deciding what to do despite it.