The Rainy Season

The Rainy season

May 20th, 1990

Narrator's POV

Weeks passed, and Elizabeth became close to Esther. She was like her best friend, aside from Rosalie. Rosalie read for her exams like no other, and sometimes she felt like giving up.

She was constantly bothered about how their lives might change if she got into a new big school. However, Elizabeth always assured her that she should not worry about that and they would somehow find a way.

But now, she had something else to worry about: the rainy season.

* * *

Elizabeth's POV

We both sat together on the bed; the rain was falling, though not too heavy.

It was 9 pm, and we had finished all their work.

"The season has come Elizabeth," Rosalie started.

"Your exams? Yes, in a few months."

"I'm not talking about that, I mean the rainy season. The rainy season is back!"

I smiled; the rainy season was my best season, a time to play when the lake rose, and I would play near and under the rain. It was one of my best times.

"What's wrong with the rainy season? It's very fun to..."

"No, it's not Elizabeth! The rainy season may have been fun when you were younger, but it has never been fun for me. June to November is the worst month for me, and rainy season my house gets damaged.

Most of my savings will go for all the drugs I need because I always catch a cold.

I'm nearer to death during the rainy seasons, and now I have you to worry about. The rain would surely damage this house as it did to the others, and then we would be left alone. All our books will be soaked In water, and I would not be able to sell them in the market or cigarettes in the streets.

The rain will soak away my cigarettes, hinder me from going out to sell, destroy my house, and leave me sick. I only have my savings to help me through the months, and my schooling would also be hindered.

We would not be able to enjoy bathing in the stream because of how cold it may turn; my whole life is ruined every rainy season. Sometimes I pray for death to come and get me, but I always survive. Do you know why? Because nature lets me live to suffer another rainy season. "

A tear dropped from her eyes; it was the first time I saw her cry. While in the village, I enjoyed the hot tea my Papa made for me. At the same time, he told me stories every evening; Rosalie was here, almost dying because of the rain.

I hugged her tight. This time it was my turn to comfort her.

"Don't worry Rosalie, we're going to be just fine. Don't worry, I will work extra hard so I can be able to save much money for the rainy season, and we will share the food I bring every evening for morning also, without eating everything that night. That way, we will be able to save up for the rainy season. "

I was confident, but they were just words.

The primary rainy season came, and our lives were tested.

* * *

June 25, 1990.

Rosalie and I were walking on the streets; there had been terrible rain the day before. The water in the bridge rose up to the floor of our house.

We rarely go to the market now because of the rain. Instead, Rosalie decided to work as a tiny servant in a big house close to school. She would wake up very early to mop the floors of the house. The house owner was an old woman whose children were all grown up. The rain made her house extra dirty, so he hired Rosalie to clean up her house every morning throughout the rainy season.

Rosalie would wake up early and walk to the woman's house, cleaning all the walls. She was paid a hundred pesos every day.

My work was also on the line because Mrs. Medinah rarely had customers, so she paid me little, and I had little food to bring back home.

We were not even close to the end of the rainy season and already facing loss. At least Rosalie did not have to work in the evenings again; she would only escort me to the restaurant and then come back home.

We were walking back home from school, and I passed by the market. Since Rosalie banned me from working in the market, I had to wait for her to finish every day after school.

"I want to visit Miss Esther today," I interrupted.

"Why?" Rosalie asked, and then she sneezed.

"I haven't visited her in two weeks, I'm sure her business is facing a loss. "

"We don't have time for that Elizabeth, our house is almost going to crash, instead you should help me find more materials to add to increase the strength of our house."

"But it's just going to take a few minutes, I just want to ask how she is."

"The weather is changing already, the rain will start falling anytime soon. "

"What if we go together?"

"No, I have many homeworks to work on, plus I have to find ways to strengthen the house. "

"Please, I just want to help her a little Rosalie, then after I would not go to the market till a when the rain reduces. "

"It's not going to reduce anytime soon, so just get used to it," she said, sneezing again.

"What if I just say goodbye to her? "

"You know what? Do what you want to do, just don't come back late okay?"

"Thank you. Don't worry, I know my way back home "

Rosalie walked away; she knew I would keep insisting if she had said no. She sneezed again as she went, and I noticed it this time. I decided to buy her some drugs on my way back home.

The cloud brightened up a little, and I went to visit Esther. She was surprised to see me, and she was also happy.

"Elizabeth, it's been so long. I thought I may never see you again." Esther said, hugging me tightly.

"Sorry Esther, the it's the rainy season. Rosalie hates this season and she banned me from working in the market so I won't catch a cold, but I think she has. I want to work so I can buy her some drugs."

"But the weather is almost changing, you should not have bothered."

"I know, I just wanted to say goodbye to you. Because of the rain, I would not be able to work with you till November."

"Don't worry about me, in fact, I came here today to pack the remaining things left in this shop, I have decided to rent it out. I got a job as a nanny in a school in Quezon City. "

"Oh wow, that's great news. I'm so happy for you. It's the same place Rosalie wants to get a scholarship to."

* * *

Narrator's POV

Esther was very much interested in Elizabeth and Rosalie. She felt responsible for them, like the missing parts she desperately needed. But Esther did not know them much, and she was concerned they may harm her at some point. But Elizabeth's little face and Rosalie's daily struggles made her want to adopt them, but she still had doubts about it.

She wanted to know them well enough to understand what she was getting into.

"You know what, since we are here, why don't we catch up. Now tell me everything about yourself. " Esther said.

"I was found in the lake. My Papa found me there. We lived in a village far away.

But he went to heaven, and the villagers called me a witch and said I killed him."

"Why did they call you a witch?" Esther asked, concerned.

"He told me he was going to heaven; heaven was a beautiful place, so I believed him and told all the villagers. Then he refused to wake up one day, and they all called me a witch.

They tied me up to a chair, and everyone accused me differently; then, they decided to tie me up and take me to the city. I could not breathe in the sack; it was tough.

But then I came here; I found Rosalie when people tried to bully me. She's like a big sister to me, the best sister in the world. "

They continued their conversation for hours until the rain started to fall heavily.

"You know, now that we both live under the bridge, Rosalie has two major concerns. Where she would live is she gets a scholarship and also the rainy season."

Elizabeth stopped; she just remembered something, and she stood up immediately.

"Oh no, I have to go back home immediately!"

"What's wrong Elizabeth?"

"I had promised Rosalie that I would come back early so we would rebuild our house because it's already crashing. It's already evening and the rain is increasing. Rosalie will be very angry with me now, I have to go."

"Wait a little, I have a friend who rides a rickshaw, he would come pick me in an hour time, so just wait so he can take you home."

"You don't understand ma'am, I have to go immediately or else the house may crash and Rosalie will blame me. Please, I have to go now."

"The rain is falling; how would you be able to transport yourself?"

"You don't have to worry, ma'am; I will run as fast as I can" Elizabeth ran off immediately before Esther could stop her. Esther called on Elizabeth, but the rain made it hard to hear her.

Thankfully, Esther's friend came earlier than he had suggested.

"Sorry I came early Esther, the rain is destroying things and so I came here earlier to take you home as I had promised."

"Diego, you're here. Thank God. Change of plans, follow that little girl, let's pick her up and take her home. I will pay you any amount you ask for."

"No problem Esther."

* * *

Elizabeth's POV

It was hard to see, I ran as fast as possible, but it was effortless. Trees fell in my presence, places crashed, and the rain worsened.

Suddenly, a rickshaw passed and stopped by my side, and I found Esther in it.

"Elizabeth quick, get in!"

I ran into the Rickshaw, and I directed him to the bridge.

But after a while, it stopped, and I wondered why. We were almost across the bridge when the Rickshaw stopped.

"What's wrong Diego? The house is almost near. "

"The thing is the bridge has fallen down and there is no way to pass. "

"Fallen down! Oh no ! Rosalie..."

I ran out of the Rickshaw and saw that the bridge was indeed broken. I had to follow a different route to get to the house, so I followed another road near the stream we used to bathe in.

I ran as fast as I could until I reached the house.

I could not believe my eyes when I found The house collapsed and Rosalie lying there, almost freezing to death. The river was touching Rosalie, and her tooth was almost jamming together.

I tried to tap her continuously, but she would not wake up.

I was crying profoundly, and I needed help. I turned around and did not find Esther's Rickshaw again.

I ran out to scream for help, but the rain was louder than I was, and all the windows were closed.

I went back to Rosalie and tried to wake her up again, but her body was scorching, yet she was freezing.

I had no idea what to do; I did not know who to turn to.

If anything happened to Rosalie, it would be all my fault.

"Please don't take Rosalie away from me. Rosalie, please wake up now. "

I tried everything possible, but she was not waking up.

"Papa, please help me now. Don't take Rosalie away from me. Please, Papa, help me. " I was now crying; I had no idea what to do again.

"Elizabeth, I finally found you!" I heard a voice from behind

* * *

Esther's POV

Elizabeth ran out immediately, and I felt sad.

Diego turned the rickshaw to move out, but my heart could not bare it.

"Diego please stop, I have to make sure Elizabeth is okay."

"Esther, the bridge is almost falling again. Let me ride to a safer place then we can find her."

"Please do, I will pay you any amount you ask me for, I just can't leave those children alone. "

Diego drove to a safer place, and we started to find Elizabeth. It was hard because it was late in the night, but we continued, and the rain also kept falling.

I felt like almost giving up when I heard someone shout for help. It was faint, and I thought I had heard wrong, but I followed my instincts.

I almost lost my way when Diego shouted at me.

"Where are you going ma'am?"

"I feel Elizabeth passed this Stream."

"It's hazardous; it leads to the under of the bridge. The bridge is very high; the water can drown you."

"If it leads to the under of the bridge, then Elizabeth surely passed here, and if she did, then I can too."

We passed the stream, and luckily, I heard Elizabeth's screams again; I found a shadow running back into a different road.

I hurriedly followed the shadow and finally found my way to the other side of the bridge. A tear slipped from my eyes when I saw the home of Elizabeth and Rosalie in poor condition.

I blamed myself for not choosing to adopt them earlier.

"Elizabeth, I finally found you!"

I shouted, getting Elizabeth's attention.

"Esther!" She screamed and then hugged me tight. Then she continued.

"Please save my sister, she doesn't want to wake up. Please help Rosalie. "

I immediately rushed to Rosalie; she had a very high fever and convulsed.

I picked her up and held her in my hands; I could feel her wet skin, and she had to be taken to the hospital immediately.

Together with Diego, we took Elizabeth and Rosalie to the hospital.

* * *

9:15 pm

Elizabeth's POV

The doctor finally came out from the ward, and I cried. It was all my fault; if I had agreed to help make a better house for Rosalie, she would still be fine.

I rushed to the doctor immediately before he could say a word.

"Please, how is my sister doing? I hope she did not die. Please tell me how my sister is doing, sir."

The doctor came, bent down, and patted my back, then he went towards Esther.

"We were able to save her but she would still be in observation for the rest of the night. She will be okay, hopefully. You can all go home and come back tomorrow."

"I can't leave without Rosalie," I said. I had nowhere to go, and although the rain had reduced, it still fell.

"I'm going to stay here tonight sir, I promise to sit quietly and wait for her to wake up."

"Elizabeth, you will follow me to my home okay?"