Carnival Light in a Moment of Darkness Josie, a weekend carnival performer known as Rainbow Rose, was setting up her booth at the county fair—face painted, balloons sorted, and memories of her late sister Rachel weighing heavy on her heart. Rachel had always called her “the sunshine in the room,” but grief had dimmed that light.
While performing near the carousel, Josie spotted a young boy, Elliot, hiding beneath a bench, clutching a photo and trembling. His noise-canceling headphones and withdrawn posture reminded her of a child she’d once entertained with sensory sensitivities. She gently approached, offering a balloon and a story about a wise owl who hid under benches.
Elliot slowly opened up, revealing the photo was of him and his late mother on a carousel horse with a golden mane. Josie, moved by his quiet grief, invited him to a quieter part of the fair—the horse stables. There, she told him a story about a brave explorer with headphones who found his way home with the help of a dragon and a map made of starlight. Elliot smiled for the first time.
Then, his father arrived—Michael, Josie’s old friend from school. They hadn’t seen each other in years. Michael was overwhelmed with gratitude and confessed how hard it had been since his wife Sarah passed, trying to raise Elliot alone. Josie offered to visit and tell more stories, and Elliot eagerly agreed.
As they walked away, Josie sat quietly in the stables, reflecting. For the first time since Rachel’s death, she felt her purpose return. She realized she could bring light to children like Elliot—those navigating grief, sensitivity, and silence. And maybe, just maybe, Rainbow Rose could help others find joy in the dark.
