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The rain was coming down in sheets. Cerys peered out through the curtains, watching for her parents' car. It was hard to see out there - the downpour seemed to obscure even the light from the streetlamps. She heard her aunt move up behind her, then felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on little girl, time for bed. It's really late."
The six year old turned and made a face at her. She hated that nickname. She wasn't little!
"I'm waitin' for mommy and daddy."
Her aunt looked out the window before glancing over at the clock on the wall. Cerys didn't miss the worried expression that crossed her face.
"They're okay, right?"
"Of course. People drive more carefully in the rain, Cerys. They're just taking the time to be safe."
Her aunt steered her away from the window and toward the stairs. Cerys frowned. It didn't feel right. Mommy said they'd be back when the little hand was on the eight, and it was almost on the ten. Mommy never lied. Not ever.
Still, she let her aunt change her and put her to bed, and she lay there in the dark listening to the rain until she fell asleep, clutching her teddy bear.
Eventually the rain stopped, to be replaced by colored lights that flashed through her window and danced across her ceiling. She slept through the night and woke the next morning cheerful and expectant, only to learn her parents were never coming home.
