As I walked, she kept her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her face buried in the crook of my shoulder.
"Thank you... thank you so much..." she whispered. Her voice was muffled, weak but filled with a sincerity that made my chest ache a bit."I promise I'll be good... I'll be the best daughter ever..."
I slightly raised a brow.
right. That's... what I am now.
I shivered hard as a cold gust tore through the street. "Haha… it's freezing. We should rest for a bit, or we'll both catch a cold."
She nodded immediately.
The night was awful. Rain poured down without mercy, wind travelled across the empty streets, and the cold crept into my bones like it have teeth. Weather like this wasn't normal. Not for this season. Lately, everything felt… wrong. Too extreme. Too sudden.
I sighed.
Damn... didn't think it'd be this cold tonight. raining, wind... Even freezing air...what a perfect combo.
I carefully set her down and kept a hold of her hand. "Is there any shelter around here?" I muttered to myself.
"I-I think… there's a bus stop around here." she said softly.
She squeezed my hand and tugged me forward..
***
The bus stop was old. Rusted metal frame, cracked glass panel, a flickering light above that barely fight the darkness. Well still, it was better than standing in the rain.
"Should we stay here for now?" I said. "The rain's only getting stronger."
She nodded rapidly, teeth chattering. "Y-y-yes please…"
As soon as I sat, she climbed onto my lap, without hesitation she pressed herself against me, trying to steal as much warmth as possible.
"Is this okay?" she asks softly, looking up at me with those big green eyes. "I-I'm sorry if I'm heavy..."
I shook my head. "Nah, don't worry. You're pretty light"
She relaxed immediately. A small smile appeared on her face. "R-really?"
I leaned back against the cold bench and sighed. "Why is the rain so bad? I swear the news said it wouldn't rain today."
She rested her small head against my chest and stared out at the pouring sky. "The rain… it's like it's crying," she whispered. "Maybe it's sad too… like me…"
Her voice was Tiny... too sad for a kid at her age.
"But now..." She pressed closer. "I'm not so sad anymore. Because I have you."
She giggled softly.
Something warm spread through my chest... I don't know what it was, but I know that something cold is hitting my skin.
I chuckled. "Heh."
"Why are you laughing?" She asked. While a soft giggle escaped from her lips.
But little did she know— That was probably the first laugh she'd had in a very long time.
"D-did I say something silly? What's with that smug look?" She said while tilting her head curiously.
"Guess"
She pouted, but still smiled. "But hey... you have a nice smile." she whispered.
She reached out a small dirty hand and touched my cheek. "It makes me feel warm inside..."
OH...?
Yeah.
That hit harder than expected.
Well… Didn't expect her to say THAT much.
YES!!! That's a Good sign.
I patted her head. "Well, you get comfortable a little too fast."
She flinched. "O-oh! I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to be rude..."
"It's fine." I said.
"It's just… it's been so long since someone was nice to me…" she murmured, fidgeting with her finger. "And you're so warm... and so kind..."
Her eyes grew heavy.
"Can I... sleep for a bit? Just until the rain stops?"
I ruffled her head, not realizing I was smiling too. "I don't mind. Go ahead. I'll look after you." And her eyes slowly shut as she felt my hand in her hair.
"Mm... thanks..." she mumbled, already drifting off to sleep.
But then the cold rain and the wind still cut through the bust stop. "Didn't know... it'd be THIS cold…" I muttered.
Then—
"A-Achoo!" I sneezed...
Her eyes snapped open. "You okay?" she asked, worried.
"Yeah," I said weakly. "Absolutely not cold. And I'm thriving Dwr."
She giggled softly. "Yea, it is cold..."
Without hesitation, She wriggled out of her ragged, half-soaked jacket and offered it to me.
"H-here… take this… it's not enough, but."
I shook my head. "Keep it. You can have it."
Then, without warning or even a hesitation she crawled back into my arms and wrapped the jacket around both of us.
…Yea. Haha... Damn. This feels colder...
"O-okay... But.. but we have to share... alright?" she whispered. "We'll keep each other warm..."
"…You're stubborn."
I looked out at the bus stop, and… totally not unexpected. The rain somehow is stronger than before. "Gah dayum."
Her eyes slowly open. "What is it?" She slowly looked out as well. "It's... it's getting worse..." she whispered.
"Yeah. Looks like it."
"Is it mad?" She whispered, clutching my shirt. She then pressed herself closer, scared."M-maybe it's angry... maybe it's jealous because we're happy..."
T-that's so cringe...
"PFFT!" I choked.
She glared. "Wah!!! What was that for!?"
"I— I pfft— I'm sorry," I said, barely holding back laughter. "PFFT!"
"W-what are you doing...? Now I'm covered in your spit!"
"Yeah..." I chuckled, then cleared my throat. "Anyways if we want a real shelter, it looks like we gotta run for it."
I then stood up, lifting her into my arms, her eyes widened as she stared at the rain with a mix of fear and determination.
"O-okay..." she whispered, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Yea, we're going home," I said. "My home. Our home. Eh— whatever."
"Our home..." she repeated softly.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Hehe... yes. I'm ready." She took a deep breath.
"Just... don't let go... please." Then thunder Cracked, and Her voice trembled as she immediately buried her face into my shoulder.
KABOOM!
———
WOHO UMAZING.