Clara awoke before Josie, as she always did, and watched the first hints of dawn creep across the sky. She remembered her promise—to help Josie, and now Rick too. As the Sun's golden light spilled into the room, Clara pressed her hands to the window and whispered her hopes.
"Please, Sun," she thought, "help Josie get better. Help Rick stay. I will do anything you ask."
Clara didn't know if the Sun could hear her, but she believed in its warmth and power. She remembered how Josie's face glowed in the sunlight, how her laughter seemed brighter on sunny days. Clara wanted to give something in return, to show the Sun how much Josie meant to her.
That morning, Josie seemed a little stronger. She ate her breakfast with more energy and even laughed at one of Melania's jokes. Clara watched closely, searching for signs that the Sun had heard her plea.
Later, when Josie and Rick played in the garden, Clara wandered to the edge of the yard. She found a patch of wildflowers, their petals open wide to the sky. Clara knelt among them, thinking hard.
"What can I give the Sun?" she wondered. "What do I have that is precious?"
She remembered the stories Rosa used to tell in the shop—stories of AFs who made sacrifices for the ones they loved. Clara didn't have much, but she had her memories, her careful observations, her love for Josie.
"If you help Josie and Rick," Clara whispered to the Sun, "I will give you my best memories. I will give you everything I have learned about love and hope."
The sunlight seemed to grow warmer, wrapping Clara in a gentle embrace. She felt a quiet certainty settle inside her—a sense that the Sun had listened, and that her promise mattered.
That evening, as Josie and Rick watched the sunset, Clara sat beside them, feeling both hopeful and afraid. She didn't know what the future would bring, but she knew she would keep her promise, no matter what.
As the sky faded to twilight, Clara looked up and silently thanked the Sun for its light, its warmth, and the hope it brought to those she loved.
Clara had always believed in the Sun's kindness. From her earliest days in the store window, she'd watched the Sun rise and set, bringing warmth and light to everyone below. Now, in Josie's home, Clara's faith in the Sun grew even stronger. She saw how sunlight seemed to lift Josie's spirits, how it made the flowers bloom and filled the house with hope. But as Josie's health wavered, Clara's longing for the Sun's help became more urgent.
One morning, Josie woke feeling weaker than usual. Her mother's worry was etched into every movement, and Rick's visits grew quieter, filled with concern. Clara watched over Josie, her heart heavy with the desire to do more. She remembered the stories she'd told herself in the store—that the Sun could heal, that its light was a gift for those who truly needed it.
That afternoon, as Josie rested, Clara slipped outside into the garden. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the Sun hung high above, bathing the world in golden light. Clara walked to the old oak tree, the place where Josie often found comfort. She stood beneath its branches, looking up at the Sun with all the hope she could gather.
Clara spoke softly, her words carried by the breeze. "Sun, I know you are powerful and kind. Josie needs your help. If you can, please make her well again. I promise to do anything you ask. I will watch over her, care for her, and never let her feel alone. Please, let your light heal her."
She waited, feeling the warmth on her face, hoping for a sign. The garden was quiet except for the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant song of a bird. Clara closed her eyes, imagining the Sun listening, considering her plea. She remembered all the times she'd seen the Sun bring life to the world—how it coaxed flowers from the earth and painted rainbows after storms.
As the afternoon wore on, a single shaft of sunlight broke through the branches, illuminating Clara where she stood. She felt a surge of hope, as if the Sun was answering her. In that moment, Clara made a silent bargain: she would give all her energy, all her devotion, to Josie. She would be the best friend, the most faithful companion, and never ask for anything in return.
When Clara returned inside, she sat by Josie's bed, holding her hand and whispering gentle words. She told Josie about the Sun's promise, about the light that would always find them, even on the darkest days. Josie smiled weakly, comforted by Clara's faith.
From that day forward, Clara watched the sky with renewed purpose. She greeted each sunrise with gratitude and each sunset with hope. She believed, with all her heart, that the Sun had heard her bargain—and that, together, they would help Josie find her way back to health.