The shop window was Clara's world. Each morning, the Sun would rise, painting the glass with golden light, and Clara would watch the city awaken. People hurried past, their faces bright with hope or shadowed with worry. Sometimes, a child would pause, pressing a hand to the glass, eyes wide with longing. Clara always smiled back, though she knew they could not see her move.
Inside the shop, the other Artificial Friends waited too. Rosa, with her curly hair and gentle voice, liked to tell stories about the families she imagined would choose them. Rex, tall and serious, believed he would be picked first because he looked so strong. Clara listened to them all, but she kept her own hopes quiet. She wanted, more than anything, to be chosen by someone who needed her.
The Manager, a kind woman with silver hair, dusted Clara's shoulders each morning. "You're special," she whispered once. "Someone will see it soon." Clara treasured those words, holding them close as the days passed.
One afternoon, the Sun shone especially bright. Clara felt its warmth deep inside her, as if it were speaking just to her. That was the day Josie came.
Josie was small, with pale cheeks and curious eyes. She stood in front of the window, studying each AF carefully. When her gaze met Clara's, something passed between them—a silent promise, a spark of understanding.
"She's the one," Josie said softly to her mother.
And just like that, Clara's world changed.
Clara sat quietly in the display window, her gaze fixed on the world outside. The store was filled with the soft hum of machinery and the gentle voices of other Artificial Friends, but Clara's attention was always drawn to the sunlight that spilled through the glass each morning. She had learned to watch for the first golden rays, to notice how they crept across the floor and warmed her face. The Sun, she believed, was a source of kindness and healing—a silent friend who watched over everyone.
Each day, Clara observed the people passing by on the busy street. Some hurried with their heads down, lost in thought, while others paused to look at the display. Children pressed their faces to the glass, their eyes wide with curiosity. Clara always smiled at them, hoping they would notice her gentle expression and the careful way she listened. She wanted to be chosen, to find a child who needed her.
Inside the store, the manager moved quietly between the rows of AFs, adjusting their positions and dusting their faces. Clara's friend, Rosa, stood beside her in the window. Rosa was cheerful and talkative, always sharing stories about the people she imagined outside. Together, they made up games and whispered about what it would be like to have a home.
One afternoon, as the Sun reached its highest point, a girl appeared outside the window. She was thin and pale, with a scarf wrapped around her neck and a thoughtful look in her eyes. She stood very still, watching Clara with quiet intensity. Clara felt a flutter of hope. She smiled her warmest smile and tried to look as kind and attentive as possible.
The girl's mother joined her, speaking softly and pointing at the different AFs. The manager noticed them and came to the window, inviting them inside. Clara's heart raced as the girl approached, her steps slow and careful. She reached out and touched Clara's hand, her fingers cool and gentle.
"Hello," the girl whispered. "My name is Josie."
Clara looked into Josie's eyes and saw a mixture of sadness and hope. She wanted to comfort her, to be the friend Josie needed. The manager explained Clara's features and abilities, but Josie seemed more interested in Clara's gentle manner and the way she watched the Sun.
After a few moments, Josie smiled. "I like her," she said. "She feels…safe."
Clara's heart filled with happiness. She knew, in that moment, that she had found her purpose. She would do everything she could to bring light and comfort to Josie's life.
As the Sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the store, Clara watched Josie and her mother leave, promising to return soon. Clara turned to Rosa, her voice full of hope. "I think I've found my child," she whispered.
And as the last rays of sunlight warmed her face, Clara silently thanked the Sun for this new beginning.
Clara gazed out the window, her heart glowing with anticipation, imagining all the adventures and gentle moments she and Josie would share.