The storm had been raging for a while. The thunder sounded as if it was cracking through the hills, the trees and the rooftops. The lightning flashes were cutting through windows, one couldn’t even hide in the corridor. The house was dark and hostile. It felt like it was forever since her mom and dad went into the car and drove off to the shop. The storm was so strong, they had to go and try to control the damage to the shop and the food in it. But it felt like it was forever since they left. They said they would come back soon, but it had been hours and the storm was not stopping. She stood in the window shivering. Every blow of the thunder felt like time was halting, like life ended. Her sister looked out the other window, facing the road, her face frozen in fear and worry. “We’d better go and wait for them”, her sister said. She thought that was an excellent idea, a solution. If you wait for someone, that is because they eventually arrive. You wait, they come. She put the shoes on, summer shoes. No socks. Home pants, cotton, worn out, inherited. Sister put her shoes on – all shoes stacked neatly in a line in front of the main entrance, cold concrete floor - and took the umbrella. Sister was big, already in elementary school, she could carry the umbrella for both of them. Sister took her by the hand and they went out. She was closing her eyes at the thunder and lightning, she let her sister lead her. She was trying to defend herself with her hand from the wall of rain hitting hard from different angles. They walked down the path they knew, to the river. They had to cross the small bridge to reach the main road. Water was everywhere, feet wet, broken umbrella bending, bridge flooded. They ran across and down the river path anyway, ran through the water and the dirt. She was thinking how strange that the blue flowers (cornflower) were still whole, sticking out of the water. They reached the road, stood at the side and waited. She cried. And then cried more. She didn’t have to be ashamed; no one could see her. She thought mom and dad had disappeared and Sister and her would disappear too.

She didn’t remember how it happened. There were headlights and then mom’s voice, screaming how dangerous it was, how they never should have left home, there was a flood, people had died. Sister tried to explain something, but she was quiet. She didn’t feel she needed to say anything. There was peace again, even with the rain continuing.