Tempest

Scarlett screamed and sat straight up in bed as the thunder cracked and lightning lit up the room. She pulled the sheets over her head and tried to concentrate on a happy thought, but the snap of a tree branch sent her flying out of the bed. Scarlett threw on her robe and went into the living room to look out the huge picture window at the raging storm.

The trees' branches bent over sideways almost touching the ground and the wind howled as the rain pelted against her window. Her sight becoming less visible as the storm intensified until she saw a bolt of lightning strike against the transformer on the pole across the street. Darkness surrounded her instantly. Trembling, she walked cautiously with her hands in front of her as she felt her way into the kitchen to grab the flashlight.
She blindly rummaged through the drawer while her heart raced, and she whispered,"Oh please, please, be there." She sighed as she wrapped her hands around the long cylinder shaped object and pressed the button forward. A light flickered for a moment and then faded out quickly.

"No, no, please no." She shook the flashlight and the light shone bright and again dimmed rapidly. She ransacked the drawer in search of batteries, throwing pens and papers onto the counter. She gulped and felt the tears well up in her eyes. After a moment Scarlett calmed herself and shook the flashlight again. She pressed the button and looked quickly as the light came on for a moment, but not long enough to see clearly.

She jumped as the thunder rumbled and shook the house. A tree branch flew into the window, shattering glass onto the tile floor and she screamed. Sirens sounded overhead and she dropped to the ground with her heart pounding hard in her chest, and crawled along the floor, hoping the flashlight would work long enough to make it to the basement. Any light was better than no light even if for a brief moment.

Scarlett made her way down to the basement and felt her way to the couch and curled up with the pillow. Overwhelmed and exhausted, yet too terrified to sleep, she recited the prayer that helped her feel safe.

The storm was weakening and the sirens no longer sounded. She sighed and grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch and covered up. After what seemed an eternity, the thunder let up and the room became silent. A moment later, she heard the humming of electricity, and then the lights flickered back on. She let out a deep breath and walked back upstairs. The sounds of a light shower calmed her. She noticed the damage from the tree branch left a puddle of water and broken glass, but there wasn't much she could do about it until morning. Scarlett wedged a blanket through the window valance and laid a towel out on the floor to sop up the rain as well as cover up the glass. Exhausted, she found her way back into the bedroom and snuggled back into her bed, falling quickly into a deep sleep.