Lisa carefully tiptoed out of her room, the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance making her heart race. She could hear her brother's whimpering through the door, a soft sound that tugged at her heartstrings.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she whispered to herself, trying to muster some bravery. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was the older sibling and needed to be strong for him.
As she opened the door, the flashes of lightning illuminated the hallway, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. Lisa squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, willing away her own fears before stepping into the stormy darkness.
When she reached the small room at the end of the hall, she found her brother curled up in a ball on his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks. His wide eyes shone with fright, amplifying the need for her to act.
"Hey," she said softly, sitting beside him and wrapping her arms around him. "It’s okay. I’m here."
"But what if it gets worse?" he sniffled, looking up at her with a mix of fear and trust.
Lisa took a moment, reflecting on her own anxiety before responding. "Thunder is just the sky talking, and the lightning is its way of saying hello. It can't hurt us as long as we stay inside. Together, we can even count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder to keep our minds busy. Let’s play a game, okay?"
He gave a hesitant nod, and together they began to count. Each flash of lightning brought a sense of calm as they focused on the numbers rather than the storm outside. Slowly, the tension in the room eased, replaced by the warmth of sibling companionship.
The thunder rumbled in the distance, but Lisa felt as if she could brave the storm so long as she stayed by his side. In that moment, the blanket of fear began to lift, not just for her brother, but for her as well.
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