Roar…!
Thunder rippled through the sky, its deafening sound echoing across the city as rain poured down in relentless sheets. Water splashed as cars sped past, their tires cutting through puddles. People ran in different directions to look for shelter, even those clutching umbrellas struggled against the heavy downpour, their clothes already soaked through.
Amidst the chaos, was a girl.
Her hands were full — her bag clutched tightly against her chest, her coat thrown over her arm. She was without an umbrella, drenched from head to toe. Her hair, which was roughly tied and folded at the back, but strands of it,were stuck to her face. She could hardly see even with her square-shaped glasses on.
Worst of all, one of her shoes was not making it easy for her. Due to the rain, the shoe sole was barely holding together. With the sole peeling off with every step, forcing her into an uneven limp. Gritting her teeth, she continued limping as fast as she could towards the direction of her house. Taking a cab was not an option — she couldn't afford such luxury. So she endured her way home.
Arriving at a quiet neighborhood in South LA, the rain had softened slightly but the cold clung stubbornly to her skin. It was already late — nine minutes to ten, so everywhere was eerily quiet and dry, just the distant sound of dogs barking could be heard.
She arrived and stood still at a black gate.
Beyond the see-through gate, stood a modest two-storey house which was the only thing their parents left behind for her and her brother. Its creamy paint was slightly worn off and peeling. Vines hanging along the walls, giving it a tired but lived-in charm.
She tilted her head upward, her eyes catching the faint glow of light coming from one of the rooms which indicated someone was still awake.
She pushed the gate open, letting out a sharp, creaking sound that echoed in the serene environment. She quickly slipped inside and locked it before making her way toward the front door.
The once lively garden now showed signs of neglect — grass overgrown, flowers starting to wither away, and dry leaves scattered around the pathway due to their neighbor's tree. At the right corner of the house stood a quiet garage, untouched.
Arriving at the doorstep of the house, she shifted her bag, fumbling through it in search of her keys, but her hands were too full, which led to everything falling on the floor — her belongings scattered across the wet floor.
"Oh shit…" she muttered under her breath, quickly bending down to gather them.
The door suddenly opened.
"What happened to you, Ariana?" The voice was firm — serious, yet laced with worry.
A young man who was bound to a wheelchair at the doorway, his sharp eyes scanning her soaked figure. Without hesitation, he wheeled himself closer to help her pick up the last item.
"Why are you coming back so late from work? You dare not use the rain as an excuse, don't tell me you worked extra hours," said Adrian.
Ariana froze for a split second.
"No, no!" she quickly denied, her voice slightly too fast.
"I was done with my shift since eight, but a colleague of mine asked me to wait for her, she wanted to inform me about a new business center that opened recently" she quickly defended
Silence
Adrian stared at her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes clearly said it all.
"Broooo…" Ariana dragged out, flashing him a cheeky smile revealing those cute dimples imprinted on both cheeks as she wiggled her brows.
"It's just for today I promise, you know we need that money, I can't let it pass us by, imagine what we could do with it!"
Adrian sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"I have told you Ari… you don't have to overwork yourself, we can manage what we have and with the little you make from your multiple shifts, it's okay," his voice softened.
"I'm trying my best to contribute too… so don't push yourself like this" Adrian said feeling kinda guilty and worried. He helped her carry her bag.
" You're so soaked, " he added, "come inside".
Before he could turn his wheelchair, Ariana quickly stepped behind him.
" I've got you "
She gently wheeled him inside.
As they entered, the warmth of the house wrapped around them immediately. Soft dim lights lined the walls, casting a calm glow across the space. To the left was the sitting room — simple but neat, which was creamy-colored blended with a touch of white designs, and a small television hung on the wall opposite three modest couches arranged carefully around a wooden center table. A wooden ticking wall clock hung on the right side of the sitting room close to the television, filling the silence.
Tick…Tock…Tick…Tock….
Old pictures hung around the walls, memories frozen in time.
One was a big family portrait, smiles wide and genuine. Others were Ariana and Adrian as babies, and the other was when they celebrated their first birthday. Behind the sitting room, was the kitchen, simple but neat. The scent of soap mixed with freshly baked cookies lingered in the air, which shows the house was neatly cleaned every day and Adrian just came out of the kitchen.
Near the doorway, there's a staircase that takes you upstairs, two rooms face each other, one of which belongs to Adrian and the other hers. But unfortunately Adrian had to move to his parents' room which was located downstairs due to his injury.
She reassured him again and kissed him goodnight on the cheek while ruffling his shoulder-length, jet black hair.
"Goodnight bro, I love you!"
"Good night Ari, love you too…"
She turned and walked up to her room while Adrian just stared at her disappearing figure.
He remained there for a moment, his icy blue eyes clouded with worry.
Then he sighed and turned his wheelchair to his room.
Losing their parents to a fire incident, Ariana never stepped foot in their room, their death was what nobody expected. One minute they were here; the next minute, they were gone.
Even if they were not wealthy, their parents made sure that they had a good education and lived comfortably. But after their death, things became so hard for them. She had to take care of herself and her twin brother, Adrian, who was bound to a wheelchair since he was twelve years old due to an incident, which she still feels guilty about.
She vowed to make them proud and take them out of this situation of poverty. She actually felt that's the main reason their parents died, they couldn't afford a good hospital and even a proper burial, their relatives failed them – they never showed up.
She vowed to prove them wrong, she made it her number one goal — to bring her and her twin brother out of poverty. She wants to provide the best treatment for her twin brother, the best living condition for both of them.
But unbeknownst to her, the road to her success was a rocky pathway, a path filled with humiliation, sacrifice and pain.