The story “Dark Room” highlights the fact that anxiety is a widespread human experience, and invites the listener to think about who and what can help to bring light into a life filled with darkness.

Do you still remember being a child and lying in bed in the dark? A dark which was so impenetrable that you were afraid of it. Perhaps you called for your parents, or perhaps you just stayed absolutely silent and pulled the quilt over your head and under your heels so that there was no way in at all. Anything might be lurking out there in the dark – a goblin, an animal or an evil person. I said “might”, but one time there was definitely something moving around under the bed or in the wardrobe, I could just feel it!

Do you still remember how it felt when you called your parents and they came to see you? First you would hear your father’s or your mother’s footsteps, then the door would open and light would flood into the room. Perhaps you were dazzled by the light to begin with, but that wasn’t a problem. The darkness had gone. Someone was there to look after you. The fear vanished, and all the night-time ghosts became powerless.