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Summary: Part 5

Josie’s condition worsens in the days following their trip to the city—she has trouble breathing and spends most of her time despondent in bed. On some days she is well enough to sit up and do her online lessons, but most days she sleeps all day. Rick comes to visit, to see Josie and to receive help from Klara with his studies.

After one of these visits, Klara asks Rick to bring her to Mr McBain’s barn one more time and he agrees. She asks him if the love between him and Josie is real and lasting, and he says yes, confused by her question. They meet up that evening and Klara repeats what she did last time, pleading with the Sun to save Josie and this time bartering with him, telling him that if he saves Josie, Josie and Rick will love each other for the rest of their lives. During her inner monologue to the Sun, she thinks of moments throughout the past year, with Rosa and Josie, Rick and the Mother, and all the other people she has encountered. The Sun sets, but Klara notices his light is still reflected in a stack of glass panes at the back of the barn; she directs her final plea to this light. 

Dr Ryan begins coming to the house frequently, where he and the Mother argue over whether or not to send Josie to the hospital, believing she is close to death. Every time, they end up deciding to keep her at home, where she is comfortable. 

One night, six days after Klara’s trip to Mr McBain’s barn, a massive storm brews in the sky. The day is extremely dark and gusty. Rick and Klara watch over Josie as she sleeps until Melania Housekeeper comes in to relieve them, and they go downstairs. The Mother beckons Rick into the kitchen and begins aggressively asking him if he feels as though he’s won, having not been lifted and avoiding getting sick like Josie. She berates him with this question but is clearly distraught over her daughter. Rick interrupts her to tell her that Josie asked him to give the Mother a message a few days ago; the message is that Josie loves her mother and will always love her, and has never once wished for a different mother. The Mother is struck by this, and at a loss for words, when Klara realizes the Sun is beginning to appear through the windows.

Klara jumps up and yells that they all need to go upstairs now. Moved by Klara’s urgency, they follow her to Josie’s room, where Klara begins pulling up the shades. Josie hasn’t moved in days. Bright orange sunlight breaks through the storm and falls onto Josie where she lies in her bed; after a few minutes she wakes up. Klara notes a change in Josie, and sees that she is becoming stronger already. Everyone notices it, and exclaims that she is looking better. She asks for a glass of water, and the Mother tells her to take it easy; however, she is clearly feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time.

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