Note: I didn't bother with a timer today, so this post is a bit longer than usual. After being away from Steemit (and writing) for so long, I just wanted to write and I'm quite happy with the resulting story. I hope that you enjoy it!
Christine stood quietly next to her grandfather, the bow in her hair rustling slightly as a gentle breeze wove through the small crowd of people. They had been waiting for what felt like an eternity, watching people come and go as they went about their daily lives. The trolley was very late today.
A rowdy pair of boys, long since bored of standing, dashed between the people on the small platform as they played a game of tag. The older of the two bumped into Christine as he passed and she let out a small, surprised squeal, clutching her stuffed rabbit tightly.
"It's all right," reassured her grandfather, pulling her closer to him. "Just a few more minutes, I'm sure."
Christine kissed her plush rabbit and clung to her grandfather's leg, doing her best to ignore the dirt that the boy had left on the skirt of her pale blue dress. So much had changed in her life in such a short time, she wanted nothing more than to go home, and she fought back tears at the thought. There was no going back. Her home was gone.
ding
The sound was faint still, but excitement and relief rippled through the crowd. Bags were gathered, children were brought back to their guardians' sides, and the crowd inched closer to the platform's edge. All eyes were on the entryway of the tunnel.
Ding Ding
The trolley finally emerged from the dark tunnel, looking a little worse than the last time she had seen it. It trundled along the track and came to a stop in front of the platform. It almost seemed to heave a sigh of relief as its heavy load of passengers disembarked.
"All right, now, sunshine. You stay close to me," her grandfather said, grabbing her hand tightly. "I don't want you falling into the water."
She hugged her rabbit as tightly as she could and followed him. The gap between the platform and the trolley was far too wide for her comfort, but she managed to stretch her foot across and board the weary car without issue. She then settled into a seat next to one of the windows, her grandfather sitting next to her.
She gazed out at the drowning city and wondered what it had looked like before the floods. Her own town had been a refuge for some of the city residents who had been displaced by the floods, but now even her town had succumbed to the silvery blue waters.
"Not long, now, sunshine," her grandfather said, putting his arm around her. "We'll be safe at the cabin up the mountain. Grandma is already there, waiting for us."
She offered him a small smile, then returned her gaze to the window. That's what they had said about her home. It was in the hills, they wouldn't have to worry about the floods that the city folk were so scared of.
And as the trolley began to trundle its way down the track once more, she wondered if anyone would be able to truly escape the water god's wrath.
This prompt was provided by @mariannewest and can be found here.
Image sourced from Pixabay.
