The sky was a canvas of fading gold and dusky blue, stretched wide above the hill behind the old community center. Eira Solen sat alone on the grass, knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. The city lights flickered faintly in the distance, but up here, away from the hum of traffic and chatter, the world felt quiet — like it was holding its breath with her.
She tilted her head upward, eyes fixed on the first evening stars that blinked awake. They were small and scattered, barely visible yet somehow comforting. The kind of stars you didn't notice unless you were really looking for them. She'd come here every evening for the past week — ever since her father had been admitted to the hospital.
Her fingers twisted the edge of her sleeve as she whispered, "Please let him get better. Please."
There was no formal prayer, no memorized words. Just the raw ache of her thoughts, pressed silently into the sky. Her chest felt tight, not just from worry, but from the helplessness that had built up over days of pacing hospital hallways and pretending to be strong. She just wanted him home. Healthy. Laughing again.
"I know I haven't been the most faithful person," she muttered, eyes still on the stars. "But if there's anyone up there… if you're listening, please just help him."
She sat in that stillness for a while longer, letting the breeze play with strands of her long hair, before she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Hey, what are you doing out here? You're gonna catch a cold."
Eira glanced over her shoulder to see Liora, her closest friend since childhood, trudging up the hill with a small bag of snacks and a puzzled expression. She was always the one who kept snacks in her purse like a mom. The sight of her was grounding, like a reminder that the world was still spinning, even if Eira's felt like it was stuck.
"I'm praying," Eira said softly.
Liora smiled and said. "Oh so what are you praying?"
Eira smiled faintly, then turned back to the stars. "Dad once said that if you ask God for something with your whole heart… He listens."
There was a pause. Liora didn't say anything right away — a rare moment of silence from her. Then she walked the rest of the way up and sat beside Eira, pulling her legs in and offering her a juice box.
"I don't know much about God," Liora said, "but I do know your dad's strong. And you're stubborn. That's a dangerous combo."
Eira let out a soft laugh and accepted the juice. "Thanks."
They sat together in comfortable silence, the air cool and calm around them. Eira's mind wandered back to when she was little — when her dad would carry her up the hill on his back, pointing at constellations and making up silly names for them. She wished she could rewind time and go back to that.
After a while, Liora stood up and brushed the grass off her jeans. "Alright, prayer girl. Let's get you home. Big day tomorrow."
Eira nodded. Tomorrow, she'd visit the hospital again — maybe with good news waiting.
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