It’s really coming down outside now I can hear the rain pounding against the windows. I decide to just tuck myself on the couch and try to watch tv to keep my mind off of the storm .Which is becoming very hard to do with the sporadic thunder booming ever few minutes, making me jump slightly in my seat.

As I started to really get into an episode of the real world I heard the faint sound of the door bell ring. I wasn’t sure if it was in my mind, coming from the tv or really happening so I just looked back to the screen. Just as I was getting relaxed again I heard someone beating on the front door. I jumped up fling the tv remote in the process which made a nasty smashing sound as it hit the wall, that can’t be good.

I cursed and rushed over to the door peeking through the pip hole looking out. It was getting dark out and the storm made it even worse to see out to the street. I wasn’t able to see anyone that way so I built up my courage to just crack open the door and look out. Sticking my head out through the opening I looked to the left and to the right stopping on a person leaning up against the side of my house on the porch soaking wet in baggy sweat pants and a hoodie.

“Hey can I help you” I tried to scream out over the howling wind. The person didn’t seem to hear me so I reach out to touch their arm. As I touch them they jerked back away from my touch as if I had burnt them or something. I pulled back my arm and stepped out onto the porch toward them. The person glanced up but I still couldn’t see their face due to the hoodie being pulled up all the way and the darkness.

The person took a step forward but started to sway then collapse toward the floor. I quickly  bent down and caught them noticing that they were very light. I started to panic what the hell am I suppose to do. I turn the person over figuring out that it was a female and scooped my arms underneath her legs cradling her body to mine. The plan was to at least get her into the house where it was warm then figure out what the hell to do. As I rose to stand up the wet hood fell back exposing her face for the first time to me.

“Ashley”