Shelter in the Storm

It was a dark and stormy night, and Sarah had just settled into her cozy armchair with a cup of tea and a good book. The sound of rain tapping against the windows and the occasional rumble of thunder made her feel grateful to be safe and warm inside. As she flipped through the pages of her novel, she heard a faint tapping at the door.

At first, Sarah ignored it, assuming it was just a branch scraping against the wood. But the tapping grew more persistent, and she realized that someone was outside. She got up and peered through the peephole, but all she could see was a small figure huddled on her porch.

"Please, can I come in?" the figure asked, its voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah hesitated for a moment, wondering who could be outside in such terrible weather. She peered through the peephole again and could now make out the figure of a young boy, shivering and soaked to the bone.

Sarah couldn't turn him away. She opened the door and ushered him inside, feeling sorry for him as she noticed his wet clothes and matted hair. She led him to the living room and gave him a towel to dry off.

"Thank you," the boy said, his voice soft and timid. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I had nowhere else to go."

Sarah sat down on the couch opposite him, feeling a sense of compassion for this young stranger. She asked him his name, and he introduced himself as Alex. He was no older than fifteen, with a mop of curly brown hair and a backpack slung over his shoulder.

Sarah offered him a warm drink, and they sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their tea and watching the rain pelt against the windows.

After a while, Alex began to speak. He told Sarah that he had run away from home after an argument with his parents. They had accused him of stealing money from their safe, and he had denied it vehemently. But they wouldn't believe him, and the argument had escalated until he had packed a bag and left.

"I don't have anywhere to go," Alex said, his voice breaking. "I don't have any money, any food. I'm sorry to burden you, but can I please stay here for the night?"

Sarah listened sympathetically, remembering her own rebellious teenage years. She had felt suffocated and trapped by her parents' expectations, and she could understand why Alex had felt the need to escape.

"Of course," she said, her voice gentle. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to. I'll make up the guest room for you."

Alex's face lit up with gratitude, and Sarah could see the weight of the world lifting off his shoulders. She showed him to the guest room, and he thanked her again before closing the door.

As Sarah went to bed herself, she couldn't help but think about the young boy in the next room. She wondered what his life had been like, what had led him to this point. She had always been a compassionate person, and she knew she wouldn't be able to rest until she had helped him.

The storm raged on outside, the rain and wind lashing against the windows. Sarah tried to sleep, but she was too worried about Alex. She got out of bed and crept to the guest room door, listening for any signs of distress.

But all she could hear was the sound of quiet breathing. She sighed with relief and went back to bed, feeling comforted by the thought that at least one person was safe and warm on this dark and stormy night.

As the hours passed, Sarah drifted in and out