The rain kept pouring down without mercy.
I walked slowly along the dark street, my eyes searching desperately for any small shelter. But there was nothing.
My whole body was shivering badly. My teeth chattered so hard I could hear them clicking together.
My clothes were completely soaked and stuck to my skin like a cold, icy second layer. Every step felt heavier than the last.
Suddenly, a car sped past me at high speed. Its tyres cut through a big puddle and sent a wave of dirty, muddy water splashing all over me. It hit my face, my chest, and my already wet bags.
I stopped right there in the middle of the empty road. Fresh tears filled my eyes and mixed with the rain.
"Oh God… why is everything going wrong today?" I whispered. My voice cracked and sounded so small in the storm.
I couldn't take it anymore.
My legs gave way and I crouched down on the wet pavement. The cold water from the ground soaked through my trousers.
I covered my face with my hands and started weeping loudly. The heavy rain mixed with my hot tears, and I could no longer hold back the painful sobs that shook my whole body.
"Are you okay?" a soft, kind voice asked from above me.
I slowly lifted my head. Through the blur of rain and tears, I saw a well-dressed older lady standing there.
She looked rich and elegant, with neat grey hair and kind, worried eyes.
A tall man in a black suit stood beside her, holding a large umbrella over her head to keep her dry.
The lady bent down a little towards me. "Are you okay, dear? What are you doing out here in this terrible rain?"
I tried to answer, but my teeth were chattering too much and my voice wouldn't come out properly. "I… I don't know… I just…"
She looked at me carefully, at my soaked clothes, my muddy face, and my shaking body.
Without saying another word, she moved closer and gently helped me stand up. Her hands were surprisingly strong but very gentle.
"Come with me," she said warmly. "You can't stay out here like this. You'll catch a cold. Follow me to my car."
I was too cold, too tired, and too weak to say anything.
The tall man quickly opened the back door of a shiny black car parked nearby.
The lady guided me inside and sat beside me. The man got into the driver's seat.
"Turn on the heater right away," the lady told him. "This poor girl is freezing."
Warm air soon started blowing from the vents. It felt good, but I still felt numb all over. The lady turned to me with deep worry in her eyes.
"What happened to you, my dear?" she asked softly. "Why were you walking alone in the rain like this?"
I could only shake my head.
My voice still refused to work properly. The lady did not push me for answers. She simply reached out and patted my cold hand gently.
"You're safe now," she said kindly. "We're almost home. Just rest."
I must have dozed off from pure exhaustion because the next thing I felt was the lady tapping my shoulder lightly.
"We're here," she said. "Come on, let's get you inside and warm."
I opened my eyes and gasped softly. The house in front of me was not just a house, it was a huge, beautiful mansion.
Tall white pillars stood proudly at the entrance. The building spread out wide with large shining windows that glowed with warm golden light. Even in the rain, I could see the perfectly trimmed bushes and colourful flowers lining the long driveway.
Everything looked expensive, clean, and strangely welcoming at the same time.
The lady helped me out of the car and led me carefully through the grand entrance. One of the housekeepers quickly came to meet us.
"Show her to the guest room upstairs," the lady instructed. "Prepare a warm bath for her immediately. She needs to get out of those wet clothes before she falls sick."
The housekeeper nodded politely and led me up the wide staircase.
The guest room was enormous. It had a big, soft bed covered with fluffy white pillows, a beautiful wooden wardrobe, and large windows that looked out over a dark garden.
The walls were painted a soft cream colour, and a cozy armchair sat in one corner. Everything in the room felt rich and comforting at the same time.
I stepped into the attached bathroom, pulled off my wet, dirty clothes, and stood under the hot shower for a long time. The warm water ran over my freezing skin like heaven. It slowly chased away the cold and the heaviness in my bones.
When I finally came out, I saw a clean grey sweatshirt and matching pants laid neatly on the bed.
They looked too big for me.
I put them on. The sweatshirt hung loosely over my shoulders and the pants were a bit long, but I didn't mind at all. I felt warmer and cleaner than I had in hours.
I quickly packed my wet hair into a rough ponytail and stepped out of the room.
Now I didn't know where to go.
I thought about going to the living room, but I had no idea which direction it was.
The hallway was long and elegant, with soft lights and beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. I walked slowly, feeling lost and a little nervous.
Suddenly, I bumped hard into someone.
I lost my balance and started to fall, but a strong arm quickly wrapped around my waist and caught me before I could hit the floor.
I looked up and froze completely.
He was the most handsome man I had ever seen in my entire life. He had sharp jawline, neat dark hair, and the most beautiful green eyes I had ever looked into. Those eyes were staring down at me now.
"Are you alright?" he asked. His voice was deep, calm, and smooth like warm honey.
I couldn't speak. My heart was suddenly beating very fast and not because I was cold anymore.
I just stood there, staring at him, my mouth slightly open. For the first time that terrible day, something other than pain and fear stirred inside my chest.
He was still holding me gently, waiting for me to say something.
And all I could do was look into those green eyes and wonder who this man was.