Almost Blind [First draft] / On hold

Prologue

Quick, short steps indicated running, as people hurried to get shelter from the pouring rain. There was chaos everywhere. People tried to push one another out of their way, but their big bungling umbrellas made that near impossible.

Shops and stores closed their doors to protect the inside room from possible splatter and incoming rain, that grew stronger within seconds. Nobody gave a second look to any homeless person in the dark alleys, or better said to any person, passing by, that was not the taxi driver to take them home.

Whole city seemed to have sunk into a damp coat of darkness that smelled like mold, because of the thick clouds above it. Only occasional strikes of lightning provided additional light, but didn't help the city from suffocating in darkness and rain.

Even shop owners were slowly closing the shops, far before closing time, knowing the rain drove away all customers for the day. Just like that, streets emptied and gave the impression of being haunted, because of the gloomy light of street lamps and neon signs between the moody strikes of electrical discharges in the sky.

People hid in their homes. Those who weren't lucky enough to live in a walking distance, were trapped in cars, taxies and busses crammed on overcrowded road. Others forced to wait at subway, wanting to get home.

Storm surprised everyone. It came out of nowhere and it was more furious than most could remember, it ever happened. Downpour escalated and rain became thicker, raindrops bigger. Everything seemed coated into thick cotton like substance, city was trapped in a timeless loop of gloom and sorrow.

Citizens caged in their apartments, or maybe even at their workplace, had nowhere to go, nothing to do. Traffic held to a stop, gave this place the sight of it being dead and abandoned. Apart from few unlucky ones who still wandered the streets and handful of operating shops, whole city was dead.

What this city needed was exactly that. A big storm that shuts down everything, cleanse the streets as well as give people time to stop and focus on themselves. Since each person is different from another, everyone had their own things they did. Some read a book, sided with tea, maybe took a hot bubbly bath. Some found more shady ways to get by. Others slept through the horror of lightning and thunder. While there were people who ignored the storm and kept perfecting their passion.

The storm lasted for three long days, flooding roads and streets. It was impossible for sewers to get by that amount of water, so everything urged to the surface. Firefighters and others had their hands full. They had to free the city from the excess water and waste material it brought with it, so people could go back to their normal lives.

Nevertheless, the city soon lightened. People could return to their jobs and do their daily duties. Now even more eager to do them than before.

The streets filled with people, who hurried in all directions. Towards their work place, to the store, some went to see their favorite bartender to exchange few words and news. People appreciated the change of weather and enjoyed the feeble sun beans that poked through thin coat of clouds that still filled the sky above.

A little girl with yellow rain boots and flowery white-blue raincoat stepped out of the car, followed by her father. Her cheerfulness infected everyone around her like a nice warm spring breeze. Just like that life in the city invoke again. Everyone looked happy and calm. The city seemed like a forest after the storm when everything is peaceful yet lively, because of all the dirt washed away. All grudges forgotten, despite if just for a day. It was time for new beginning.

Hope.