When The Rain Falls

I woke up to the gentle thrumming of the rain outside, and the less pleasant sensation of big, cold splats of rainwater on my face.

"H-huh?"

I sat upright, and next to me, Emelyse also rose. I rubbed my hand over my face to get rid of the water, before I looked around.

Lottie hadn't sounded the alarm, so whatever damage there was, couldn't be so bad. But the roof was leaking, and rain had dribbled down in several other places as well, staining the small red rug on the floor just as it soaked into the bedding.

"We have to fix this," I muttered.

"Is this bad?"

"I don't know yet," I said.

I looked around. The electronics weren't damaged, thankfully.

"Lottie?"

"I'm here, Toma. How can I help you?"

"Can you give me a status report?"

"Sure, Toma. There is nothing out of the ordinary."

"The roof is leaking." I rolled my eyes. "Did dad program it so he didn't have to fix it?"

"There is minor damage to the roof," Lottie admitted. "This does not impair our travels."

"Yes, it does," I muttered under my breath.

But complaining wouldn't get me far. Instead, I looked on the floor where the repair bots were stationed. They woke up with a gentle tap of my fingers.

"Fix the roof, please," I said.

"Repairbots sent," Lottie confirmed. "Estimated repair time: 1 hour 25 minutes."

"That long?!"

I couldn't believe it. What had Dad been thinking? This wasn't something he could ignore away (or, well, he could, but it just meant that now I had to deal with it). I shook my head.

Outside, it poured down so hard and fast that the trees, even though they were close, were only a blur. It almost felt as if we were right in the middle of a waterfall. I didn't even dare to open a window.

"Oh. I think this is damaging the... picture?" Emelyse tilted her head.

"Huh?"

I ran over to her, just as she pointed to a photograph that my parents must have pinned on way back then. I didn't even know they used this ancient technology - but it didn't feel that out of place for them, either. They could be pretty old-fashioned.

The photograph was yellowed at the edges, and a big crease went through it, as if it had been folded in half before. On it, there were my parents - smiling at the person or bot who took their photo. Mom had shorter hair, and Dad's was way longer. It was weird looking at their frozen smiles, when most pictures of them in their youth that I knew could wave and grin and move. Just like most things in the world.

But this picture looked like it was truly a remnant of a different time, as if frozen and preserved. It made it feel special, somehow.

And right now, it was being drenched with water.

"Ah! Right! Towel!"

I turned around, but there was Em already, helpfully holding out an old towel. Quickly, I soaked up the water, but it was difficult to tell what damage it had already done. Should I dry it somehow? Or would that just damage it even more?

"I should search this up..."

"I already did." Emelyse sounded pretty proud of herself. "I think you've done already more than enough. Just let it rest."

"Okay, thanks."

With my fingertips, I took the photograph and gently laid it on the small table. Hopefully, there it would be able to rest.

Then, I looked around more. This couldn't be the only spot where there was potential water damage.

"Em? Could you help me get rid of the water?"

She smiled at me. "Gladly."

We worked side by side, and our quarrel from the day before was all but forgotten. It was at this moment that I realized once again, how glad I was that I didn't have to get through this situation alone. With her by my side, even this seemed doable. Or even - I barely dare to admit it - fun.

As the bots worked outside in the pouring rain, we worked on the inside, just as tiredlessly. While Em hung up the covers and pillows to dry, I scoured the floor for any rain puddles. It took longer than I would have expected, even though there were two of us, and a few bots to support us.

So, when we were done, I slumped down on the small table next to the kitchen, and couldn't even hide the fact that my stomach was rumbling.

"We should eat," Em suggested.

"We really should. We deserve a big breakfast, don't you think?"

She nodded in agreement.

And so, we went to work again. I figured out the recipe for the pancakes that Dad always made, and she brewed us some strong coffee. Soon enough, the tiny table threatened to break under the amount of food that we piled onto it - bread and pancakes, cookies and butter, marmalade and hazelnut spread. And to top it all off, the mismatched cups that held our coffee (mine with sugar and cream, while hers was black). And with various fruits and vegetables to round our breakfast off, it really was a feast for the eyes.

I had never been so hungry.

Outside, the rain continued to pour down, and a few droplets still trickled into various cups and pans placed on the floor. But with Em at my side, and the coffee in my hand, I was slowly warming up, even if the day might continue to stay as gray and wet as it already was.

We were already putting everything back again, when finally Lottie reported that the bots were done.

"All minor roof damage fixed," she announced, proudly.

I rolled my eyes, but said: "Good job."

If it really had been just minor damage, the repairs wouldn't have taken so long. But it was over, and I was warm and full, and really, there was nothing to complain about.