Pip wiggled and strained, trying to shine. A tiny flicker sputtered out. The night air felt cold.
Below, a girl sat alone on a porch swing. Her shoulders were slumped. She stared at the ground.
The girl looked up at the sky. Pip tried to twinkle brighter — but only a faint glow came out.
The girl sighed. The sound drifted up to the stars. Pip heard it.
Pip spotted the girl shivering. It had to do something. It gathered every last bit of light inside itself.
Pip sent the light down — a warm blanket made of stars. It settled over the girl on the porch swing.
The girl looked up. Her eyes went wide. She smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered to the sky. Pip glowed — brighter than ever before.
Every night after that, Pip shone. A bright beacon above the sleeping village.
The girl waved up at Pip from her porch swing. Her laughter rang clear across the quiet village.
Pip watched from above. It had never felt so warm.
The girl smiled. Pip shone. And the whole sky felt like home.
