Samantha
The thunder crashed again, louder this time, shaking the walls and sending a jolt through my chest. I sat up on the couch, my heart racing as I tried to catch my breath. For a second, I didn't know where I was, but then the sound of Lily's soft sobbing pulled me back to reality.
"Lily?" I whispered, my voice thick with sleep. I turned to see her small body trembling under the blanket, her sobs barely audible but enough to make my heart break.
Another crack of thunder ripped through the night, and Lily's quiet crying turned into full-on sobs. I didn't hesitate—I scooted over to her, pulling her into my arms.
"It's okay, sweetie," I murmured, brushing her hair back and trying to soothe her. "It's just a storm. It'll pass."
But even as I said it, I couldn't deny the intensity of the storm. The rain pounded against the windows, the wind howled like something out of a nightmare, and the flashes of lightning turned the room into a strobe of light and shadows. It was unsettling, even for me, and I couldn't imagine how terrifying it must have been for Lily.
Victoria stirred beside me, blinking awake. "Lily, darling, what's wrong?" she asked softly, sitting up as she realized what was happening.
"The storm," Lily whimpered, burying her face in my chest. "It's too loud. I'm scared."
Victoria reached over, her hand gently rubbing Lily's back. "It's just a bit of thunder, love. It'll calm down soon."
But I could see the fear in her eyes, the kind that only came from feeling completely overwhelmed by something out of your control. And honestly, I felt it too. The storm wasn't just a normal thunderstorm. It was angry, violent, and the darkness outside felt like it was pressing in on us from all sides.
Maya sat up then, her eyes wide and tired. "We should find Dad," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
I exchanged a glance with Victoria, and we both knew she was right. Ethan was a source of comfort for them, and if anyone could calm Lily down, it was him.
"Let's go," I said softly, pulling Lily up with me. She clung to me, still shaking as we tiptoed out of the room.
The storm seemed even louder as we made our way through the house, the rain battering the windows like it wanted to break through. The thunder rolled again, and I flinched, clutching Lily a little tighter as we walked down the hallway.
When we reached Ethan's room, I hesitated for a second before gently pushing the door open. The room was dark, but I could just make out the shape of Ethan sprawled across the bed, completely unfazed by the chaos outside.
The girls didn't hesitate—they climbed into the bed without a word, and for a moment, I was jealous of how easily they sought comfort in him. I had that type of comfort once. It feels like it was a lifetime ago. But it had only been three years. Geez. I shouldn't think about that now.
The girls curled up against their dad, their small bodies fitting perfectly into the space beside him.
Ethan didn't stir. How he could sleep through this, I had no idea.
"Should we try and wake him?" I whispered to Victoria, unsure of whether we should.
But Victoria shook her head. "Let's not disturb him. He's had a long day too."
I nodded, and as the girls nestled in closer, I felt a pang of guilt. We had been so focused on our own issues that we hadn't considered how much Ethan must have been dealing with—saving us from the crash, looking after the girls, being dragged into all this chaos.
The room was still too loud as the storm raged outside, and the girls' wide eyes told me they weren't going to fall asleep anytime soon. I looked at Victoria, and she gave me a small smile.
"Come on," she whispered. "Let's join them."
I raised an eyebrow, but she just shrugged and climbed into the bed beside Maya. I hesitated for only a second before following her lead, slipping under the covers next to Lily. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and for the first time that night, I felt a small sense of peace.
"Tell us a story," Maya whispered, her voice barely audible over the storm.
Victoria chuckled softly. "A story, huh? Alright…"
And so, she began to weave a tale—something about a knight and a dragon, her voice low and soothing. The girls listened intently, their eyes starting to droop as they got lost in the story. Even I found myself relaxing, the tension slowly leaving my body as Victoria's voice washed over us.
As the storm raged outside, we lay there together, wrapped in warmth and safety, telling stories until the sounds of thunder and rain faded into the background, and one by one, despite my full intention to go to my own bed, we all drifted off to sleep.