Inspired by a dream

 

She froze.

The alarm was shrill - something she had only heard on World War Two films. She had never heard it in real life.

"What is it?" Carly, her friend asked, panicked.

"I don't know. Should we be leaving?" She held tight to the car door, her gaze on the horizon.

Her eyes widened as the sky turned a dark shade of grey. A cloud of what appeared to ne thick grey dust was spreading across the horizon and seemed to be tumbling towards the two bewildered women.

"I need to find Will and the girls" She said.

"I am going to drive home, I reckon I can outrun it" Carly replied frantically.

"Be careful" 

They quickly embraced. Carly got into the car and sped off down the road. She started to run, grateful she had worn trainers today. Not exactly how she had pictured her morning out with her friend panning out! She followed the panicked, screaming people around her , flocking for a safe space.

Will and her daughters were in the shopping centre. She had left them in the cafe by the entrance. She scanned the front window. Will caught her eye, a puzzled expression taking over his face as if questioning what was going on. 

She burst into the cafe, a handful of people traipsing in behind her, out of breath and brimming with anxiety.

"What's going on?" Will arose from his seat.

"Hi Mum!" Daisy, her 10 year old daughter jumped up on her excitedly.

"Mum, " Her eldest daughter, Moira, held her phone out in front of her "Look!"

The phone flashed images of reels on social media, replaying scenes of panic and confusion.

"They say it's a storm" The Cafe owner bellowed above the screams and cries of uncertain customers and those sheltering from the chaos outside. "A storm to end all storms. It didn't even appear on radar until it was too late. The weather forecasters claim it just appeared from nowhere. We have to stay put"

Out of the window, the sky was almost a blanket of black. Rain had begun to hammer down and puddles turned into rivers within what seemed as seconds.

"I'm scared!" Daisy cried, burying her head into her mothers chest.

"Let's get another drink" Will said as calmly as he could. "Keep the girls warmed up. Hot chocolate"

Daisy placed her thumb up in agreement, her head still buried. Moira nodded, head still in her phone.

She hugged Daisy tight, watching the lightning flashing across the sky. She hated storms at the best of times, they scared her. She was always told there was no reason to be scared of them, but today was completely contradicting that. The water was rising and higher and higher against the window, murky and full of rubbish and debris.

The lights flickered twice and then suddenly went out.

A woman next to them screamed. Daisy pulled in even tighter, clinging onto her Mum.

"It's Ok homey! She tried to reassure her "It's just a power cut"

The storm was now in full force above the shopping centre. Alarms were going off and there was a blur of sounds mixing together. Feint crying, nervous coughing, a baby giggling (being entertained by their mother in the corner) rain lashing against the window and the wind howling with force.

The hours ticked by. Daisy cried herself to sleep. Moira had put her phone down and had snuggled in to her mothers shoulder. Will sat scanning the skies.

Then, just as quick as it had begun, the rain stopped.

The water had risen to waist height, Will noticed as some people started to emerge outside from their shelters. 

"I think it's time we move" He suggested.

"The girls....." She began.

"It's Ok. Daisy can go on my back. She is a strong swimmer, she will be OK if she goes in"

"I won't!" Moira retorted "I can't swim"

"We will stick together. We can wade holding hands" her mum replied, taking a deep breath.

She looked out across the street from the window. Someone had hung their socks out to dry on their washing line before the storm had descended and were swaying in the now gentle breeze, dripping wet.

"Not going to be dry today!" She chuckled in her head to herself.

"Ok" Will said, lifting Daisy to his back "Let's go."

With a deep breath and hands intertwined, they stepped out into the murky waters, aiming to get home.

Copyright C Maskell 2025