Lost in thought, my empty gaze landed on my rugged calloused hands. It was strange, very strange that life could change this much. I should be used to this change, my life had, for better or for worse, been full of changes yet I never seemed to have gotten used to such things. The Collapse, it-

"What are you doing, Daddy? I went through all this effort to wake you up, but you still seem to be sleeping! While sitting!" Vio cried out to me.

It was enough for me to lose track of where my thoughts were headed, so having no choice I looked at her instead. The slightly malnourished and pale look on her youthful face marred with bits of dirt stung my heart, like always. She shouldn't be living like this. No child should be living like this. How I wish that things that happened didn't. That those dreams of mine that plague me were the reality instead. A future worth living in...Nevertheless, I suppose I have dallied for enough, things could be much worse and it is up to me to keep things as they are.

"Daddy? Are you a-alright?" Vio asks with a noticeable tremble in her voice.

Nodding my head back in reply, I realized that I had been vacantly staring at her for too long. A bad habit of mine, one that made those who knew me well go 'That's creepy'. I never wanted to hear this from Vio, so I always kept it under wraps when near her. Seems like today's the day I slipped a little.

"D-Daddy? What's happening to you? Don't scare me..." the poor girl sounded on the verge of tears.

"Ah...it's nothing, Vio. Daddy was just thinking about some things. Nothing is happening to me." I replied hastily to reassure her.

"Really? Are you, not some monster who is using Daddy's voice to fool me? Daddy warned me about such things" Vio asked with trepidation.

This girl...I taught her well. It is always better to be suspicious than take things at face value. Nothing in this world can be trusted.

"Of course it's me, nobody else apart from your mother calls you Vio," I replied with conviction and pride.

"Oh, that's true...then...right! Mother is calling you for breakfast! We are already so late..." Vio replied with panic, probably afraid of being scolded by Thea.

...

She gave up her suspicions rather quickly. Hah...she is still a child. That's...good, she shouldn't have to grow up, not at her age. I struggled hard my entire life so that she shouldn't have to. If not for the Collapse, she would be...

A sudden tug nearly pulls me out of my bed, having caught me by surprise. I look up to find a small frustrated face looking at me, her eyes full of silent reproach. How impatient...her grip is already becoming like her mother's...

With aching bones, I forced myself to stand up. It was not easy, the warmth of the fur blanket and softness of the woolen bedsheet hooked onto my soul, drawing me back. Nevertheless, it was already too late and the piercing look from my daughter didn't let up. Plus, the incessant protest of my hungry stomach didn't help this situation much. My feet planted firmly onto the wooden floor, while I stretched to my heart's content, releasing cracks all about.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

This action seemed to please Vio, as she rushed with bright eyes out the door into the corridor without hesitation. She had probably gone fishing for praises from Thea, with obvious mention of how difficult it had been to wake me up. Just her way of having fun, I suppose. With her gone, I could go back to my very welcoming bed but I persisted. Being lazy wasn't something I was part of.

With a slow pan of my head, I looked out the window to catch a glimpse of a familiar sight. A vibrant rising sun heralded the morning, dense clouds signified rain that never came, and the landscape beneath that remained bleak. Forever embedded in my mind. With a sudden turn of my head away, I left the room. It was not good for one's mental state to look at such depressing things for too long.

|=====================|

Barry walked along the corridor that led to each of their respective bedrooms, his being the farthest. His steps were evenly paced, a sign of practice and discipline. Rays of light flitted out from the gaps of the fluttering curtains of the 2 windows lining the wall. They danced across the opposite wall, with some landing on Barry.

For a moment, a tiny ray fell across one of his eyes in such a way, that a golden ring of light gleamed within the black iris of his right eye. Barry closed his eyes with slight annoyance and opened them once more. The curtains had fluttered and that sight had disappeared.

With this brief interlude lost from Barry's mind, he walked straight into the living room. He gave his customary glance across the room, checking for things out of place. One couldn't be too careless in this era. Noticing nothing wrong, Barry gave a satisfied nod to himself and turned towards the ajar door leading outside. A faint aroma drifted from the outside, which seemed to trigger Barry's hunger. Unwilling to dally any longer and suffer needlessly, Barry appeared outside within a blink of an eye.

Leading from the cottage door was a simple dirt path that led to a heavily reinforced fence gate. Tall and pointed, the fence gates looked formidable, enough to deter any being with ill intent. One of the masterpieces Barry was proud of, the other being the cottage that stood behind him. The path split in two, the branch heading off to a small shack with a large chimney positioned behind. A trail of thick smoke lazily drifted from the chimney's spout.

"Daddy! In here!" a clear-spirited voice belonging to a certain young girl rang out.

|=====================|

I turned my head towards the origin of that shouting. Standing at the entrance of the shack, Vio stood there her arms above her head and violently shaking back and forth. I worry someday her arms will just fly right off her shoulders. Her ever-present energy would definitely turn that faint possibility into reality. Still...seeing her like this, day after day, never fails to bring joy. To be so happy, even in times like this, is a miracle. A miracle I hope to preserve.

"I know where to go, Vio. You should have learned that by now." I reply to her calls, while slowly walking towards her, along the dirt path.

"Hmph. You are always so slow, Daddy. I sometimes wonder how ever got around, without someone calling for you." Viora exclaims in wonder.

Ouch. Kids and their cruel words said with innocence. I just like to take my time. You can always be late but you can only live once. Though I suppose she wouldn't understand my philosophy. I am gratified, at least Thea understands.

"Barry! Quit dawdling, and get over here! I have been waiting for 30 minutes for your slow feet." a loud, feminine voice rang out from within the shack, laced with annoyance.

...

I was wrong. Nobody understands poor old me.

Hurrying my pace, I quickly approach the door of the shack and step inside. A blast of freshly cooked meat and boiled herbs impacts my hunger, setting it on a rampage. The smell is just irresistible, causing me to wonder once more just how had I gotten such a talented partner for life.

The shack, despite being small, was fully furnished. Having all the necessities of a functioning kitchen, it brimmed with the aura of home and food. The huge clay stove connected to the chimney burned with low heat, keeping the cooked food in the hanging pot warm. A beautiful woman stood over it, stirring it slowly and calmly. It didn't need to be stirred...

Sensing the impending doom, I plunged in, having accepted my fate. With a step, a soft rumble resounded all around.

I stopped in place, turned around, and looked out the door. The clouds had shifted. Like they had for years.

I stood there, wondering the very same question that began all those years ago.

When will the rain come?