“You will come back?” she asked looking into his eyes.

“Always.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. And I’ll bring the sun back for you.” he whispered and he headed off into the dead night.

---

Five months passed. She spent her time reading and drawing, occasionally writing a poem or two. She went outside but never for long. The world around her was too heartbreaking.

The land was bare and red. It was always smoldering hot or freezing cold. The atmosphere was acting up again. It was always dark and the only light was in houses and there wasn't much left. There weren’t even any stars anymore. There were few people around, all of them women except for the few young boys not yet old enough to go out with the men and fight, not yet having reached the coming of age of twelve. That time used to be a great event full of happiness and joy. But now it only brought weeping and grief as mothers bid farewell to their sons, not knowing if they would ever meet again. Even the old and weak men had gone. There weren't any left alive now.

One evening she went out. She stood by the single lone tree that had once been the center of a vast forest. Even though lighting was flashing everywhere she didn't go in, hoping for things that she would never know.

A deafening crack split into the air. She gasped and tried to run but she stumbled falling flat on her back. Another crack was heard and a vivid bright light flashed all around her. She cried out, trying to get up and run, but before she could there was another flash and the single tree fell.

---

She didn’t die. She awoke to cooling rain falling lightly on her aching body and burning face. She opened her eyes. It was pitch dark. She heard muffled voices crying out. She tried in vain to make a sound but succeeded only in passing out cold again. She fell into a deep sleep.

---

When she woke again a wet cloth was tied around her head. She slowly sat up.

“H-hello?”

“You’re awake!”

“Auntie? Auntie what happened? Am I home?”

“They found you with one foot under the tree. After the lightning came. It rained honey! It rained real rain! And-”

“Will you take this cloth from around my head?”

“I...” She felt the cloth being removed and she slowly opened her eyes. It was still dark.

“I-is the l-light t-turned on?” She asked fearfully and slowly. She heard crying.

“Yes. Yes it’s on. The light... the lighting blinded you. You won’t ever see again.”

---

After another five months, her ankle had healed and she could walk again. She never went outside but stayed in the house, with nothing to do, but stare off into space, at the darkness, daydreaming.

It had been almost a year since he had left. She had lost all hope of ever seeing him again.

Then came the day when the door opened. She turned her head toward the direction of the kitchen, wondering who it was at the door. She head a shriek and a deep voice, and she frowned in confusion. Her aunt and the deep voice talked and then she heard heavy footsteps coming into the room.

She felt a person kneel beside her and she moved her eyes where they would be looking at different areas as if somehow that would help her see again. She felt rough hands take hers and pull her up. She started to speak but a finger cover her mouth. She was led outside.

And she felt warmth.

“I’m home.”