Shalimar was woken up by a loud racket. During the night a thunderstorm had formed. It seemed to be directly over them now.
Lightening flashed again followed by a loud thundering. Suddenly a strange feeling overcame her but she didn't know why. Something concerned her. She decided to look around a little, perhaps the feeling would go away
She passed through the corridor into the kitchen and along the lab but she found nothing unusual. On her way back to her room a loud cracking from outside rang out again which makes her shudder. Again she felt the feeling but this time much more strongly than before.
Now she felt it completely it was fear.
Instinctively she walked to the door to Emma's room. She knew that this feeling had come from this direction
She decided to go and check if something was wrong with Emma.
She knocked quietly on Emmas door and heard a quiet "Yes?"
She opened the door and asked: " Emma It's me! Is everything ok with you?"
"Yes, everything is alright" answered Emma.
But Shalimar could tell from the voice of her friend that it was not true. She sounded scared.
Shalimar entered the room completely and closed the door behind herself. She went through the dark room toward the bed and sat down on the edge.
" What's the matter, Emma?" Shalimar asked quietly.
"Nothing. It's just — I can't sleep. I can't stand thunderstorms" Emma said.
"Me neither" Shalimar said.
In the thread of light from the moon she could see the face of her friend. The look on Emma's face threw her - reminding her of a small child who stood before the bed of his mother searching for a shelter because of the bad and loud thunderstorm.
This thought brought Shalimar to laughs.
"Stupid, he? I behave like a small child who wants to hide himself under my parent's bed because of the thunderstorm" Emma said.
That brought Shalimar to further laughter and she answered her: "No, you don't. It is ok to scared of something. Everyone has something to be scared of."
"What are you scared of?" Emma asked seriously.
Shalimar became very serious too and looked thoughtfully at Emma before she answered: "Loneliness. I'm scared of being alone sometimes"
She couldn't stand the look that Emma threw her any longer and looked down at her hands, which lay in her lap.
Emma stretched her hand and reached for Shalimars hand and said: "You are not alone. You have me"
Shalimar saw deep into Emmas eyes and knew that it was true. With Emma at her side she would never be alone.
After a short time of silence Shalimar asked: "Hey. Shall I stay here tonight?"
"Yes. That would be great" Emma answered and made room for Shalimar to lay down beside her in the bed.
They were both on their side - their faces turned to each other and they smiled.
"Good Night Shalimar" Emma said.
"Good Night Emma" Shalimar said.
They both closed their eyes and they knew deep inside of them that they will never be alone as long as they are together.
End