It's still Raining

Chapter 1

My dad is a fisherman while my mom is just an ordinary housewife. "Astrid, you're going to be fine," he said while smiling at me, I hate those warm smile it feels like this is gonna be the last time I would see it again. "You don't have to go, Ricardo." mom said while holding some of our laundries. "Gina, it's okay. Astrid is sick." Dad answered crossly. "It can wait till tomorrow. Look there's still a storm. It would be dangerous to travel. "mom said with her worried expression, she keeps pulling Dad's shirt." I'll be fine, This is not the first time I traveled with a storm, I hope you understand our daughter needs medicine, she has high fever. "Dad answered and he slowly took my mom's hand on his shirt. He smiled again, then took his boots and raincoat.

My dad has been always like this, he always wanted the best for me and my mom. My mom is totally head over heels to my dad that having me as her daughter is a great nuisance to her.

She doesn't want a child, I could feel that. I'm still ten years old but I know what kind of life I have.
Before my dad could leave the house I ran towards him and hugged him. I don't know but I have a feeling that this would be the last time I'm gonna feel his warmness.

"Astrid, be a good girl, Okay? Then I'll buy you some candies." he said while looking at me." You're gonna be a great lady, one day. I would love to see you grow, my princess. "he said and hugged me too. I felt something warm from my eyes, I know these tears weren't enough to tell my dad that I want him to be there with me when I achieved my dreams.

Then he separated from our hug and left our home.

I saw how he turned his back at us, how the door slowly closed.

After that I went back to my room, I couldn't stop crying. I'm scared that's what I keep saying to myself. I know that my life is starting to fall apart.

A ten-year-old child worries about her future especially when she feels that she's gonna be alone.

I could hear the loud thunder. I could see the brightness of the lightning and the scary shadows of the trees.

This night I won't see any stars.
I slowly cover myself in my blanket and start dreaming.

I wake up early in the morning to wait for my dad. I ran to our living room and sit there quietly.
The weather is still not good, it's still raining.

And my dad is not here yet, I started to panic. I have a bad feeling about this.

Then my mom woke up, she didn't talk to me, she treats me like I'm completely invisible in her eyes. Then the phone started to ring. My mom answered the phone and I was there looking at her.

She suddenly ran to her room and took her umbrella and she went out. I was confused by her actions but I know that something's wrong. I sat on the chair quietly waiting for my parents to come home.

But it was already dark outside and I didn't see anyone in our doorstep.

I was already hungry so I decided to go and get some biscuits in our table. Luckily, I found one sky flakes cracker and immediately ate it. It wasn't enough to fill my tummy and I could still feel the dizziness and my vision looks blurry.

I heard a footstep coming towards me. My memory is still hazy and then I remembered that I fainted. When I open my eyes I saw my mom with a teary-eyed. I was clueless but I was more clueless when she started slapping me.

" It was your fault! If only I didn't give birth to you! You're a cursed child! You're nothing but a curse." she said while hitting me. I felt numb, I know what she was trying to say. But I still ask her, "Where's dad??" she froze when I asked her that, and then she kneeled and cried. "He's not coming back. He died because of you if you weren't sick then maybe he didn't need to go and find you a medicine. It's all your fault." She said while covering her face with her palms.

That was the first rain, the day I lost my dad and my family. My mom fell asleep and I covered her with some blanket.

I sat beside her and started crying I could still feel the pain from my bruises when she hit me earlier.

But there's no such thing as painful to lose the person who always cheers you up.

My mom didn't say anything about dad if what happened to him. So I waited till morning.

When I woke up my mom is not there anymore. So I stood up and find her, It was a cloudy day and it still feels like a sad nightmare. I went out and saw some of our neighbors talking about the storm night before last night.
"Hey, Astrid. I heard your dad got into an accident." Aling Dina said to me. I didn't answer her but instead, I asked her, "Where's dad?" then she pats my head."He's in the town's hospital." she said. "Astrid get inside!" My mom shouted at me.

Then she pulled me and we went inside our house." Don't you dare go out! You stupid child!" she said and slapped me twice. I started crying because of the pain and held my face.

"Keep quiet!" She shouted and hit me with her bag. I tried to silence myself. But I couldn't it hurts like hell.

I sat on a chair and my mom leaves our house again.