Storm
"I'm scared," she said raising her covers through the roaring thunder. "That's okay sweetheart. Thunder and lightning comes and goes. Here, let's make it a game," he said sitting beside her on the bed.
"When we see another flash of lightning, let's count until we hear thunder. For every 5 seconds, the storm is about 1 mile or 1.61 kilometers away."
"How come we see lightning before we hear the thunder?"
"Because light travels faster than sound. The sound has to catch up to the light." As a flash of lightning brightened the room, he pointed and they both started counting together. "1...2...3..."
As the storm calmed, her father got up and began to leave.
"Goodnight Sweetie," he said kissing her on the forehead.
"Don't let the bed bugs bite."
…
Bears were the emblem of their kingdom. Wardens of the land. Symbols of courage, strength, and tenacity. Brutes, yet well-mannered. Weapons in coalition with armor, forged from the depths of the Earth. Unbreakable shields imbued, and capes blessed to restore within. A knight fears nothing when he rides alone. Slaying vicious monsters and creatures that may roam the enchanted woods. Even upon wounds, without fear of death. Brave as the bear that prides his crest.
Guardians and protectors. Gentle, and docile.
Yet when provoked, a roar that thundered in the ferocity of beast.
Kingdoms with a symbol of beasts. Protecting villages from the monsters in the woods, and the angels of the night. In a swore to be a guardian. Yet he had a distinct persona, often disregarding the heavy armor and the large shields. A tattered cape and trimmed apparel, scars that ran across body. A rose amongst bears.
"His name is Grizzly. Like a grizzly bear", he said handing her a brown teddy bear. "Now he might look cute and cuddly, but if you're ever scared, he'll protect you from the monsters." He gave her a subtle wink.
He returned shortly after and turned on the night light by her bedside. An enchanting forest diffuser releasing a mist of lavender. Shimmers of light protruding out the branches of the glass encased cylinder.
"The forest is where he lives to fight off the creatures." Through the dark depths of the wintergreen forests, in the midst of the minty snow, and upon the natural earth.
…
"This is kind of fun", he said as they sat on the porch bench together, a roof covering above them.
"You've never just sat to watch the thunder across a lake?"
"No, but I can see why you like it... it's exciting."
"There goes another one", he said pointing as a flash of lightning struck down upon the lake. The night sky was filled with stormy clouds, hiding the spectacles of the sky. As positive and negative electrons gravitate to create a balance.
When the storm calmed it was lightly drizzling, the aftermath of destruction. A deafening bang, scurrying life and creatures in all directions, a fear for their lives. It was struck. Falling, descending, lifeless, crashing against the earth with no one to hold or receive. Teardrops falling, dripping, dropping.
"Let's take this bridge to Terabithia."
