Rainbows after Hurricane

8. |p r e s e n t|

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Zach let out a string of curses, his fist pounding against the steering wheel. "Damn it!" In front of them, a massive tree had fallen across the road, completely blocking their path. 

                   "What now?" Jason asked, his voice tinged with panic, his eyes wide.

Zach exhaled sharply. "We move it. There's no other option." He turned to Asher, who nodded in agreement. Then, Zach shifted his attention to Meredith. "You stay with Dianna. Make sure she's alright."

Meredith nodded without saying a word, and soon after, Zach, Asher, and Jason exited the car. The rain hit them like a wall, instantly soaking them through as they stepped into the downpour.

With their heads bent against the driving rain, they pushed forward, struggling to maintain their balance against the vicious wind. The gusts slammed into them from all directions, causing them to stumble and fight just to stay on their feet. Their arms worked like oars in a violent sea, trying to cut through the howling storm.

Finally, when they reached the tree, they crouched down, every muscle tense as they braced themselves. With all the strength they could muster, they tried to move the massive trunk blocking their path. But the tree was unyielding, and the storm only worsened, the wind howling louder and the rain coming down harder, making their already difficult task feel nearly impossible.

Zach grunted, his muscles straining as he tried to lift the heavy tree. The rain was relentless, seeping into his clothes and making every movement feel like a battle. His hands were freezing, his grip slipping as the wind continued to batter them. "Come on, move!" he muttered, pushing with everything he had.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder that left them temporarily stunned. The roar of the storm drowned out everything else, adding to the chaos of the moment. The tree felt even heavier now, as if nature itself was fighting them.

            "This thing is too heavy!" Jason shouted, sweat mixing with the rain as he gritted his teeth and tried again, pushing with all his strength.

"We can't stop. We need to push harder!" Zach growled, his muscles burning from the effort. He could feel the weight of the tree pressing down, but he wasn't ready to give up. They managed to shift it slightly, but it was nowhere near enough to clear the way.

"Come on, just move!" Zach's frustration boiled over, his voice strained as he pushed harder, desperate to get the tree off their path.

he last thing Zach had expected was a damn tree blocking their way. The hurricane was already a nightmare. With every passing second, he could feel his heart pounding harder, as if it might explode. The pressure in his chest grew heavier with each beat.

He fought to stay calm, even though his mind was racing in every direction. It was as if history was playing itself out again. Last time, it was Ashley, the love of his life. This time, it was Dianna, his sister—the one person he cared about more than anything.

He could feel the weight of the past pressing down on him, his thoughts spiraling out of control. He was afraid of losing her, too, just like he lost Ashley. The fear gnawed at him, the storm outside echoing the chaos inside his mind.

But despite the fear, there was a single, unwavering thought: He wouldn't let history repeat itself. Not this time. He couldn't lose Dianna. Not again.

Zach had always been Dianna's protector, ever since she was a little girl, and the thought of failing her now, when her life was on the line, was unbearable. He vividly remembered the time she went on her first date. He hadn't known about it until their mom told him, and by the time he found out, Dianna had already left.