The rain came down in heavy sheets, drumming against the tin roof with relentless rhythm. Thunder cracked overhead, followed closely by jagged streaks of lightning that lit up the sky in brief, ghostly flashes. Egwene sat on the porch, knees pulled to her chest, the hem of her dress damp where it brushed the wet wood. Her eyes followed the storm without really seeing it, lost in thoughts too loud to quiet. Each rumble of thunder seemed to echo the unrest building inside her, and yet, there was something oddly calming about the chaos of the sky—it matched the storm in her heart.
From inside the house, the warm glow of the living room spilled out through the half-open door. Her mother's voice followed soon after, laced with concern and just a hint of exasperation.
"Egwene? What on earth are you doing out there in this weather?"
Egwene didn't answer right away. She blinked against the rain, took a breath like she was trying to swallow something heavy, and finally replied, her voice barely carrying over the downpour.
"I just needed... a minute."
Hurry now child and come in, before you catch a cold, Nice—
Egwene lingered on the porch for a moment longer, watching as another bolt of lightning split the sky. Then, with a sigh, she stood and slipped back inside, wiping her damp arms as the door clicked shut behind her. The living room was warm, the scent of something simmering in the kitchen filling the air, but it did little to lift the weight pressing on her chest.
Her mother glanced up from the couch, eyes scanning her daughter with that instinctive concern only a mother has, but said nothing more. Egwene offered a faint smile—just enough to stop questions from forming—then made her way toward the stairs.
She didn't say it out loud, but she hoped the rain would stop. She'd been looking forward to this evening with her friends all week. But with every rumble of thunder and flash of lightning, that hope seemed to shrink just a little more.
She didn't want to talk about it. Not yet. Maybe not at all. come my love let's watch the news together, her mom said as she proceed to get the tv remote. Egwene walked towards her mom and sat on the couch right next to the tv , sitting there with worries in her heart , why is it now that I'm finally making new friends, now that I feel like I belong, that I'm going to loose all of it cuz of a stupid rain , she said to herself.
Egwene sank into the armchair across from her mother, tucking her legs beneath her and rubbing her arms for warmth. The rain hadn't let up; it only seemed to fall harder now, casting blurred shadows across the windows. She murmured under her breath, almost like a prayer, "Please stop raining… just for a while."
Her mother, half-focused on the television, glanced at her with a curious look but didn't press. The news anchor's voice cut through the sound of the storm, crisp and enthusiastic despite the dreary weather.
"We're live at the launch site, where scientists are preparing for tonight's highly anticipated experiment—an innovation in atmospheric energy manipulation, believed to be a groundbreaking step forward in sustainable tech. Officials are calling it a game-changer, one that could redefine how we interact with our environment."
Egwene looked up, her brows knitting slightly.
"Atmospheric energy?" she repeated, more to herself than anyone else.
The screen flashed with images of towering machinery, sleek control panels, and a countdown timer ticking steadily toward zero. The anchor continued, oblivious to the chill that suddenly settled over Egwene's skin.
"They say it'll change the world," her mother remarked, not looking away from the screen.
Egwene didn't answer. A knot had begun to form in her stomach, as if some part of her—deep down—knew the world was about to change. Just… not in the way anyone expected .
Now the rain has stopped , Egwene quickly hurried up to her room, I need to get ready on time otherwise I'll be late , I don't want to be late, she said to herself.looking through her wardrobe she can seem to find anything suitable to wear. I can't ask mom for help now , hmm I'll just wear this then. she picked a black jean trouser and black t-shirt , packing her hair in a ponytail she opened the window to her room and jumped down. see not so hard, she said to herself .
---
Even though the rain has stopped, the sky still hung heavy and gray, like it hadn't quite let go of the storm. Puddles dotted the cracked pavement as Egwene stepped carefully across the street, her boots making soft splashes with each step. The air was damp, thick with the lingering scent of wet earth and something else—electric, maybe. The kind of charged stillness that comes after a storm but before something else.
She reached the train station, the old brick building looming ahead, weathered but familiar. Just outside, a small cluster of people had gathered—twelve in total, including herself. She scanned the group, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.
Most of them were talking, laughing even, their voices echoing off the stone walls. She recognized none of them. None… except one.
"Egwene!" A familiar voice cut through the hum of chatter. Her best friend, radiant as ever despite the gloom, waved her over with that smile that always made things feel a little less awkward.
Egwene returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She stepped into the circle, greeted by a few curious glances and polite nods. The laughter didn't stop, but she could feel the subtle shift—the way newcomers always tilt the balance.
She didn't mind. Not really. But something about the air… something about tonight… felt off.
And it wasn't just the weather.