Old Rain. [h.s.]

Chapter 36.

** THIS IS VERY DETAILED AND NOT A VERY NICE THING TO THINK ABOUT BUT IT'S REAL LIFE. (just warning you before you read it - it's fine when you get to Harry's POV though)**

Chapter 36:

------[6 months later]------

It's safe to these last 6 months have been and incredible experience for me. I've seen and met different people from all over Africa. I've cried. I've laughed. And I've done all I can do to raise awareness and help the people in this beautiful country. But I do miss home. I miss my family, I miss my friends like Ed and Nick, I miss my work and co-stars, and most of all, I miss Harry.

We've spoken as much as we can since we've been away, it's harder because of the time difference but we have somehow made it work. I'm proud of how far we've come and how strong our relationship is. We call at least 4 times a week, sometimes more if we can, and I always have a quick chat with the lads too; just to check in on them, Niall and Hayles always have a quick conversation too. I know they miss each other, in fact me and Harry think that before we came to Africa and they went on tour, Niall and Hayley might have started going out. But we're not sure, they haven't said anything to us... We still have that suspicion though.

Today is the lads last day on tour before they head home this afternoon; Whereas me, Hayles, Liz and Jack don't head home until 2 days from now. Which we are all really looking forward to!

Today is our last actually day of work here, the next 2 days are mainly to see the sights and landmarks, they're basically relaxation days after the tough six months we've endured. We have been to various different places: Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Malawi and many others. Today we are filming in Ghana, which is poverty stricken in some areas, although in others it holds festivals, tribal dances and games within the community. We are starting the day in the more poverty stricken area before heading to the other community.

As we drove closer to the town, the truck bounced against the rough terrain. The sand and rocks underneath us rocked the truck making the journey more harsh and violent, I squinted my eyes to focus on the sight ahead of me. My eyes widened and my mouth opened at what I saw, children sat dehydrated and starving on the floor outside a shack that they call home, grown women not strong enough to carry a bucket of dirty, muddy water and adult men staring in our direction out of curiosity as the protected their families. The vast amount of poverty within the town was sickening; how these innocent people can live like this, with no help or support. These people aren't living, they're surviving.

I could feel tears start to prick at my eyes as I watched the scene in front of me, a somewhat familiar thing that had happened whilst I was here. I blinked, making a couple of the salty tears fall down my cheeks - I quickly sniffled and wiped the tears away as I made my way out of the car.

I held my hand out for one of the men to kiss, to which I returned, this happened twice as it is how they greet each other. Our translator stood close by, "Hello, my name is Emma, I have come to raise awareness for the poverty stricken areas within Africa and acquire help for you. Can we speak with you?" I waited for the translator to finish before listening to the mans rough and tired voice to speak.

The translator turned to me, "He said his name is Jahlma and he is the chief here, he welcomes you all. He wishes for you to follow him." I nod and follow Jahlma to a long shack; inside were tables made out of branches and wood, a medium sized black rock was on the wall and the floor was covered in long dry grass. The translator turned to me once again as I glanced around the room, "He said this is the school for the children." I looked in shock around the shack, it was dirty and humid - the rock on the wall I realised to be a kind of blackboard and the tables were for the children to sit at. The people within the community had built a school in order to give their children an education they didn't even have themselves.