Klara and the Sun

by Kazuo Ishiguro

But as I was leaving the bedroom, the padded envelope held closely to me, she said suddenly: ‘Hey, Klara?’ ‘Yes?’ ‘It must be dull, right? Living here with a sick kid.’ She was still smiling, but I saw fear beneath the smile. ‘It’s never dull to be with Josie.’ ‘You waited all that time for me in the store. I bet you’re wishing now you’d gone with some other kid.’ ‘I’ve never wished such a thing. It was my wish to be Josie’s AF. And the wish came true.’ ‘Yeah, but …’ She made a small laughing sound full of sadness. ‘But that was before you got here. I promised it would be great.’ ‘I’m very happy here. I have no wish other than to be Josie’s AF.’ ‘If I get better, we can go outside together all the time. We could go to the city, see my dad. Maybe he could take us to the other cities.’ ‘Those are possibilities for the future. But Josie must know. I couldn’t have a better home than this one. Or a better child than Josie. I’m so glad I waited. That Manager allowed me to wait.’ Josie thought about this. Then when she smiled again, it was full of kindness, with no fear behind it. ‘So we’re friends, right? Best friends.’ ‘Yes, of course.’

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