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001. DROWNING can you drown even when you're not on land? 🕸✨🌫🖤
THUNDER CRASHED and lightning split across the dark, gloomy sky of Brooklyn, New York. It was a thunderstorm. And it was one hell of it. Brooklyn has never faced such terror, this was the mother of all thunderstorms, the biggest one yet.
With both of her shaking hands, Amy Santiago-Peralta took her hot mug of tea in her hand. She walked into her bedroom which was shared with her husband⎯⎯ who isn't home yet. Amy delicately set the mug down onto her night stand. She went to change into comfier, more breathable clothes.
Although she won't show it, she was scared as hell. Amy hated thunderstorms. She used to be fine but after it happened, she was scared shitless. Now every time there was a thunderstorm, she would change into one of her⎯⎯ or Jake's, hoodies and cuddle in with Jake while he mutter nothing but comforting words into her ears.
But he wasn't here.
Still terrified, she walked into her closet, changing quickly before she hid herself under the soft quilts and pillows of their king sized bed, waiting for Jake's arrival. A loud roar from the thunder jolted her as she buried herself deeper into the covers. Where is he? God, I hope he's safe.
The thunder continued and Amy just couldn't help but to let a tear slide down her rosy cheeks and down onto her quivering lips. She let out a whimper. She couldn't hear anything, she couldn't see anything. She just sat still on her bed, eyes screwed shut, lips pressed onto a thin line and her body was covered with the blanket. Her tea long forgotten.
Her eyes widened as she felt something on her thigh. Her eyes shot open only to see her husband sitting in front of her⎯⎯ her Jake. She was so scared and the thunder was so loud that she didn't hear him come into the apartment.
Amy took in his appearance, his hair seemed damp and his clothes were soaked with rain water. She let out a breath of relief once she saw him, he was okay. He was safe. And he's here⎯⎯ with her.
Jake let out a chuckle, "Hey Ames."
"God I was so worried about you," she said quietly into his ears as she hugged him tightly.
"I'm alright, are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with worry as Amy pulled out of the hug.
"I just can't stop thinking about it Jake, the night that's just like this," Amy sighed, averting her eyes away from his concerned ones.
"Amy, it wasn't your fault."
"It feels like it is. It always has and will."
Jake sighed, rubbing his thumb on her knuckles, lovingly.
x
FLASHBACK TO TWO YEARS AGO
AMY SANTIAGO was waiting patiently for her coffee. She had a long, tiring day at the precinct and all she wanted was to taste the hot beverage in her thirsty throat. Her fingers mindlessly drummed the table as she hummed a soft tune. She looked out the coffee shop window, it was raining hard. A thunderstorm, she thought. It was still 4 o'clock but the sky was painted a dark shade of grey.
She brought her gaze back onto the barista who was diligently making her beverage. She trained her eyes to look around the small shop, it was not overly crowded as there were a good amount of customers in it, going about their day.
She was brought back when her already ready coffee was set carefully on the table. She flashed a smile at the barista, thanking him quickly, before taking it and leaving the store.
But as she was leaving, her eyes couldn't help but fall on an old, poor man, drenched in rain water. He was trying his best to hail a cab but not one stopped.
Amy felt pity for him and without even thinking, she walked up to him and offered him a ride to his place, "excuse me sir, are you trying to hail a cab?"
"Yes I am, but no one's stopping," he frowned.
"I could drive you home if you want to?" Amy offered.
"Oh don't worry about it dear, I don't want to be a bother."
"No, it's really fine," Amy reassured him. The man seemed hesitant at first but gave in as the rain started to pour harder. Amy beamed at him before she took him to her car, "I promise to get you home safely, sir."
On the way home, the two made small talk as Amy drove. It was not long after they left that they were both stuck in a horrible traffic jam. Amy sighed in frustration⎯⎯ she did not like waiting. She glanced at her fuel gauge and watched as the tiny needle was almost on E, telling her she needed to fuel the car up.
Can this day get any worse?
She looked at the elder man who was mindlessly watching cars zoom by. She gathered up her courage before speaking, "my fuel tank's almost finished, I hope you don't mind paying a short visit to the gas station."
"Oh not at all," the old man smiled at her. Amy smiled back and took a left turn to the nearest gas station. There, she told the man that he could wait inside while she fill the gas up but he insisted on stepping out, telling her how he needed to stretch his legs.
Amy went up to fill the gas as the older man wondered around the empty gas station. After she paid, she looked around the station for the man. She found him waiting by a pole, watching the cars pass by.
Amy smiled as she called him, "Sir! We're leaving now," but her eyes widened in horror when lightning struck a nearby tree and it started to wobble a bit.
Am continued yelling, telling the man to get out of there before the tree fell on top of him but it was as if he couldn't hear anything. He didn't move, he continued to stare.
Amy broke into a run but before she could reach him, the heavy tree trunk fell and the unfortunate man was trapped under. Amy screamed and the store clerk raced out. Amy looked at her and told her to call the ambulance as she helplessly try to get the man out from under the tree.
Tears stained her cheeks but it blended in with the pouring rain water. The only thing giving away that she was actually crying was her puffy eyes and red nose. She failed this man at such a simple task of bringing him safely home. She promised him. Maybe he could've been better off if she left him at that cafe. Now, she has to live with the horrendous guilt.
x
BY THE TIME Amy finished reminiscing the terrible past and fate of the old man, she realised that Jake was already dry and already changed into his pyjamas, sitting next to her holding her hand and gazing at her eyes.
Amy felt tears welled up in her eyes but she tried to keep them in. She tried. The next thing she knew, tears were flowing freely down her face as she felt Jake wrapped his strong arms around, pulling her close. She felt him pepper little kisses on her head and she buried herself deeper into her husband's neck.
She was grateful for him, so immensely grateful.
The couple stayed like that all night. With Jake holding a fragile Amy in his hands and a crying, terrified Amy cuddled up onto her husband's side.
No words were needed. All they needed was each other's company and that's how this particular stormy night went.
And another storm they passed together, laying in each other's arms.
