The Rain

Chapter 1 - Alone

 Ember

October  25th, 2019

I wake up with a start. The sound I so dread is back again. I stare up at the ceiling, willing the dark symphony to retreat to its hiding place within the clouds. It doesn't, as the rattling of the tin roof picks up-tempo. I glance outside my window. The rain is falling hard and fast now, decimating the last remnants of anything that was once green or alive. The sight of death and destruction envelops me as I throw off the blanket and step back into reality. 

The creaky wood floors are cold and rough against my feet as I walk over to my tiny bathroom and stare into the mirror. Dark circles have replaced my once glowing skin, the contrast a shocking one against my blue eyes. I run my fingers through my matted fawn brown hair that was once tame and flowing. The beautiful girl I once was is now gone, and there's no sign of her coming back. The turmoil I experienced in the past year is very evident in my appearance. I frown as I splash cold water on my face and then turn the water off in one quick, practiced motion.

"Can't waste any," I mutter to myself as I dry my hands and retreat to the kitchen.

If only I knew- if only society knew how much we took for granted. Something as simple as water that we thought would always be around is such a limited resource now. Nothing is safe anymore. The glistening lakes, rivers, and oceans are now poisonous to anything with a heartbeat. The only water we can trust is the kind that flows under the ground away from the rain. The rain destroys anything it touches.

I open the pantry and grab one of my last rations. I only have three left. Three days away from the beginning of my end. I stare at the empty shelves and smile, the emptiness reminding me that I won't have to wait much longer. I slam the pantry door and sit at my wrought iron table, ripping open my ration, and shoving, what looks to be food, in my mouth to quiet the hunger growing in my stomach.

I stare over at the empty chair sitting across from me, and I am once again reminded that I am alone. It wasn't always this way. There was a time when this little cabin was warm, the shelves were full, and that seat wasn't empty. I would look across the table and see a smiling face staring back at me. The sweet sounds of his laugh seemed to echo in my ears; what I wouldn't give to hear that sound again.

I close my eyes and speak to the empty chair in front of me.

"Won't be long now, darling. I'll see you again soon."

The day begins to fade as quickly as it began. The days seem to blur together, now. I am forced to fall into a never-ending pattern of misery. Wake up, eat, sleep, rain, wake up, eat, sleep, rain. Most of my day has been spent rearranging things around my little world inside my home. I can't tell you the number of times I've moved my furniture around in the past year. You could see scuff marks the chairs have left behind from my constant need to keep myself occupied.

Soon the world outside is dark once more. I crouch down by the brick fireplace that is situated directly in the middle of my cabin and throw in my last two logs. It's going to be a cold final two days. Striking the match and setting the wood ablaze, I am enveloped in the dim glow before the fire intensifies and flames engulf the logs. I stare into the red fiery abyss, mesmerized.

Bang-bang-bang

A sharp banging noise snaps me out of my trance. I glance up, my hands instinctively going to the cold iron of the fireplace poker.

Again? Why can't that thing stay closed? I sigh to myself as I walk over to the red-painted window and seal it shut. It's been broken ever since that night. 

The night I lost the one person who made this life worth living.

To be continued.....

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to vote.