I’ve always struggled with an irrational fear of the dark. I think this stemmed from an inability to escape from anxiety when left in a black room with no distraction or stimulation. Because of this fear, I tended to shy away from sleeping over at friends’ houses or staying at summer camps. I wouldn’t be able to sleep in new, scary environments. I was nervous about this problem when moving up to college, so to combat my fear and make my apartment more familiar, I brought up a lot of nightlights. They’re hung up around my bed, creating a little cocoon that makes me feel safe and at home.