A thunderstorm raged in the distance. The sound of rain pounding against roofs and the howling of the wind filled the otherwise silent space. Up in a tree-house, a young girl sobbed as thunder cracked. She cowered in a corner, hair wet and tangled, hugging her knees to her chest and keeping her eyes tightly shut. She was alone and scared.
A bright light flashed, even seen from behind her closed eyelids, and then came the rumbling boom of thunder. The girl led out a yelp, her sobs echoing weakly inside the wooden fort. Her parents weren't home, having to work until late hours. Her babysitter had received a phone call regarding a family member's health and had to leave early. So the little girl went outside to play. She stayed in the backyard, sitting on the lawn and playing with her dolls.
Before she knew it, she'd fallen asleep. Droplets of cool water had startled her, jolting her awake. She took her toys and sought refuge in her tree-house. She had hoped that it was a mere drizzle, which were quite common in the area. Little did she know, it would develop into a powerful thunderstorm.
And now she was shivering in a corner, cold and hungry and scared. She couldn't stand the frightening sound of thunder. It gave her goosebumps and left her feeling on edge.
A voice calling her name made her jump. She opened her eyes and inspected her surroundings. The voice called her name again, from below. It was a familiar voice, but the girl couldn't quite place her finger on who it was.
There was a creaking noise, which the girl guessed came from the wooden planks that served as a ladder. Someone was climbing towards the tree-house. Her breath hitched in her throat as the Union Jack-themed bed sheet she had placed as a door was pushed to the side to reveal…
The girl's face lit up. In came a dripping wet older girl, panting and looking around frantically. When her eyes spotted the shivering little girl, she grinned widely. Both scurried to each other's arms, embracing.
"Dammit, Kers. Don't scare me like that, I was worried sick!" the slightly older girl exclaimed, her breath slowly regaining an even pace.
"I-I'm sorry," the little, blonde girl tripped over her words, managing to blurt out an apology. The girl who'd come looking for her was her next-door neighbor. They played together daily.
"I came as fast as I could. I was in the shower when the storm started," the older, brunette girl said, raking a hand through the tangled mess of hair on her head.
Letting out a small gasp, the little girl apologized once again. "You didn't have to come, though…" she looked at the floor, letting go of the other.
The older female snorted. "Don't be silly! I'm a hero, right? Heroes always come to the rescue!"
But Kerstin couldn't help but feel guilty. She'd made her friend walk through the rain without an umbrella; she could've caught a cold! But, at the same time, she felt fuzzy inside. There was someone out there who knew her well enough to know what scared her, and brave enough to come to her aid. She was about to thank her when thunder startled her again. She covered her ears and practically jumped into the other's arms.
"Shh," the brunette cooed, smoothing the younger girl's hair, "it'll be okay. I'm here, after all. And I'm your hero, right?"
Indeed, she was. She'd always been her hero. And Kerstin was really thankful for that, even if her shyness wouldn't allow her to voice her thoughts.