Snippets and Stories: (TWFaTB) Sunshine

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine you make happy when skies are grey--"

Her name wasn't important to her. She had too many other things to keep track of.

"--you never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."

"Dearie, that was a pretty song. You've a delightful voice, truly." The elderly woman dipped her head in her general direction--for Time had taken from her, her eyes, "I do believe I would like one of those mobiles of your's, that the sun could shine even in this dreadful downpour."

She smiled and thanked her, passing the old lady one of the many paper mobiles she had crafted.

But it wasn't for quality that many chose to receive the gift.

Nay, they didn't love it for the aesthetics, rather, the girl worked so hard on them, one couldn't help but be warmed by her efforts, terrible craftsmanship or not.

The sun was lopsided and misshapen, as were the clouds and stars, looking as if it had been made by a young child straight out of an elementary classroom. 

There were also gobs of glitter on it. It was all a bit garish really.

It's only redeeming quality, perhaps, was that the precision of the balancing had been immaculately done.

The girl herself seemed if not a bit oblivious to the fact, and no one had the Heart to inform her otherwise.

It truly was an ugly thing though.

And so she made her trip throughout the care home, singing her lullabies and bringing with her the paper suns.

Until she came to the last room.

It was as any other, she sang for them, but when asked for a mobile, realized there were none left in her bag.

"Oh don't trouble yourself, it's okay."

She promised she would be back with another, and the old lady smiled, eyes crinkling, "I look forward to it, sweetie."

And so she went home, and made another. But rain made for wet roads and she decided to go after the weather had cleared up some.

The day after, sunshine peeked, meek but cheery, and she was off to visit the home.

But nowhere could she find the elderly lady whom she had promised the mobile to. 

Even in the elderly lady's room, all that was there was her neatly made bed, with a little cut out sun on the bedside table.

Until one of the caretakers pulled her aside and told her, that she had gone over the stars. To where the sun always shone.

The man listened to the story of the young lady, now grown. Realizing she had finished, he roused, straightening up and stretching, "I'm not sure I understand."

"Shaw, was it?" she smiled patiently, "You asked me what I considered the most important thing in Life, did you not?" 

"Yes."

"Then my answer to you, is simple. Life. Savor the Time of our lives--" she paused here to chuckle at her own pun, "--for what is here today, may not be tomorrow. Never wait, lest you be filled with regret. For it is up to the living to continue to fight the good fight."

She reached into her bag for a sleek, metal, card-case wallet, and to his amazement, carefully pulled out a wrinkled cut-out sun, its vibrant yellow long since faded.

"Is that--?"

She turned it around, and in neat, curvy letters, were the words:

You are my sunshine.

Shine on!

"Do you mind if I share this story?"

"By all means. I'd be flattered to hold such high regard." She checked her watch, "And with that I'm afraid our Time has come to an end. I must be going, for Time though ended, is still ever ticking."

And with that she stood, "Thank you for the tea." 

She dipped her head to him, and stepped out of the cafe, disappearing into the hustle and bustle of New York's busy streets.

It was his first Time in a metropolitan city. A densely packed place, so full of Life, and yet isolated and not at all welcoming. 

It had been her amicable smile, framed by shoulder-length glossy black bangs, that drew him to her. To treat her to tea and ask what it was that kept her smiling. 

What was it that was so important in her Life.

It was the first and last Time he would ever see her.