Rainmaker

15

I blink slowly, feeling Lucas's warmth beside me before I even open my eyes. His arm is wrapped around me, his body pressed against mine, and for a moment, I just lay there, listening to his steady breathing and feeling the rise and fall of his chest.

I close my eyes again, resting my head lightly against his chest, letting myself sink into the warmth of the moment. It feels safe here, quiet. But beneath that comfort, there's a tug at my heart, something I've been trying to push away for days.

Home.

My thoughts drifted to my village—the place I left behind when everything started spiraling out of control. The faces of the people I grew up with, the dry fields, and the cracked earth mirror what I saw here in this village. They need water, too.

And Mira... I can almost hear her voice see the worry in her eyes.

I miss her.

I bite my lip, my heart aching at the thought of my village, of the people who need me. I can help them now. I can bring them rain the way I did here. I could save them.

I slip quietly from the bed, careful not to wake Lucas, and make my way to the window. As I look out at the village that was once on the brink of death but now thrives with life, the weight of responsibility settles heavily on my shoulders. If I don't go back, I'll regret it.

By the time Lucas wakes, I've already packed what little I have. He watches me for a long moment, his brow furrowed, before he speaks. "Are we going somewhere?"

I nod, not meeting his eyes. "I need to go back. They need me, Lucas. I can't just leave them to suffer."

He stands, walking toward me slowly. " It won't be just the drought you're returning to."

"I know," I say quietly, finally meeting his gaze. "But it's my village. It's my responsibility." 

When we finally reach the village, it's eerily quiet. The fields, once dry and cracked, are now barren. The air is thick with a stillness that feels suffocating. It's as if the life has drained from the place entirely.

A few villagers mill about, their faces tired and gaunt, just like I remembered. But there's something else, something darker lingering beneath their gazes.

As we walk further into the village, the elders approach us, their expressions stern. My heart skips a beat, but I try to push down the unease creeping into my chest.

"Emily," one of them says, his voice measured. "You've returned."

I nod, stepping forward. "I have. I've learned how to help. I can bring the rain."

Before the elder can respond, a familiar voice rings out from across the village square.

"Emily!"

I turn just in time to see Mira rushing toward me, her face a mix of shock and joy. Her arms wrap around me before I can say anything, squeezing tightly as if she can hardly believe I'm standing in front of her. I hug her back, a wave of relief washing over me. Mira's okay.

"You're here," she says breathlessly, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. 

"I couldn't leave you, or the village, like this."

Mira's eyes well up with tears, and she shakes her head, trying to hold them back. "You don't know how much I've missed you."

"I missed you too," I say softly, my heart aching at the sight of her. "But I'm here now, and I can help."