It's okay to be afraid.
It's not okay to let the fear stop you  —Unknown                  

Dark clouds filled the sky, lightning struck, and thunder rumbled. Heavy downpour surged down on the earth. The winds that swept through smashed the raindrops against the windows of the Jaramillo house.  

Inside the house, the family huddled together in the sitting room with the fireplace warming them with its heat. 

 A shadow of gloom hovered over them. They sat with rigid backs and stiff shoulders; their breaths were bated in fear that their worst nightmare might become a reality. 

"How long is this going to continue?" Alexa asked from her spot on the floor close to the fireplace.

"It will continue for as long as God and nature please," Timothy replied as he swayed on the rocking chair. 

"It's not just the rain, Papà. Some  kind of change has taken place around here." 

Timothy let out a light chuckle. "It's probably the weather. It has been raining for three days without hardly any break." 

"I agree with Alexa. There is a different aura in the air. You all seem tense." 

That's because we are tense. Paloma thought. Her eyes drifted from the book she was reading and landed on the face of her younger brother and the last born of the family.  At almost thirteen, Salvador was very observant of people's moods and attitudes. His eyes constantly sparkled with curiosity. And his utterances were filled with maturity beyond his age. 

"It's nothing for you to worry about, Sal!" Paloma sent him a smile. "Papà is right; the weather is just making us feel blue." 

Salvador stared at her with doubt and then shook his head. "Okay, if you say so." He shrugged and turned back to the game playing on his tab. 

Paloma turned. She and her father's eyes connected. Timothy's lips lifted into a smile of gratitude. Paloma sent him a smile of her own. Don't worry, Papà, I won't go back on my word. She told him with her eyes. 

Right from the start, the adults had decided to keep the bulk of the problems away from the two youngest. However, it proved to be difficult because Alexa and Salvador resembled each other in their alertness and inquisitiveness.

The dark shadow thickened as the room fell into silence. 

A light ruffle broke the silence a few minutes later. "How's the sewing thing going, Iris?" Elena asked. 

A smile slipped onto Iris's lips. "It's going great. It feels great to have something to do again." Her eyes lit up with glee. 

Paloma's heart sparked in joy. Thank you, Lord, for giving us something to be happy about. 

"That's good to know! But how do you feel about getting no pay?" Timothy's brows furrowed. 

"Well…surprisingly, I have no issues with it." Iris's smile didn't waver. "I believe the teachings of Ms. Lolita are worth more than any payment. You know, she is a great designer and seamstress.  I feel honored to learn with her." Her pleasure was visible in her voice. 

Paloma couldn't help the grin that formed on her lips. She repeatedly thanked God for averting one trouble that threatened to hit her family. 

"You know, I would like to meet her someday to personally thank her for taking you on. With the times we are in now, taking up a staff or anything like that is almost a liability." 

"True!" Iris agreed. 

"That would be a great idea, Tim!" Elena chimed in. "When things settle down, we should invite her and maybe her family for either lunch or dinner." She beamed.  

Timothy nodded; Paloma and Iris added a smile of approval. 

Paloma's eyes shifted as something drew her attention. A kind of chill floated in the air and she clutched the blanket wrapped around her. She watched Juan move from his place on the couch to the fireplace. Her eyes followed his movement as he added more wood to the fire. 

However, the heat from the ignited flames failed to abate the cold that sipped into the room. She watched her family rub their arms and palms to erase the cold. A shiver ran through her and she felt goosebumps form on her arms. She uncovered herself and dropped the blanket. 

"I am going to make mugs of hot chocolate for everyone," she announced and rose from her seat. 

They acknowledged her with mutters of gratitude. She slipped out of the sitting room and headed to the kitchen. 

Footsteps sounded behind her and her ears perked up. Her brows lifted as Alexa ambled inside and went straight to the cabinets and pulled out mugs one by one. 

Paloma smiled slightly and went ahead to fill a saucepan with milk and placed it on the stove. 

"You know, you can always tell me what the problem is." Alexa broke the silence. 

"It's nothing for you to worry about." Paloma brought down a jar of cocoa powder from one of the shelves. 

"It is!" Alexa exclaimed in a loud voice. "I am part of the family. You seriously need to stop babying me. I am 18 for crying out loud." She let out a groan. 

"I'm not babying you. But right now, you have other things you should be bothered with." 

Alexa scoffed. "Like what?" 

"Your studies for one." Paloma looked at her. "You're in the last year of high school and that is a  critical part. You need to be focused on passing all your exams." 

"That is still no excuse!" Alexa rolled her eyes. "You just want to prove that you are seven years older than me." She huffed. 

Paloma released a chuckle. "It's not an age thing, Lex; it is a matter of priority." She sent Alexa a smile. "When the time is right, you will have many years and opportunities to think about problems and how to solve them." 

Alexa shook her head. "It's not fair that the rest of you are saddled with the problems happening while I watch and do nothing." She produced a pout. "By the time you were my age, you were already helping Mamà in the shop."  

Paloma gazed at her sister and she couldn't stop the affectionate smile that formed on her lips. She walked around the counter and came to stand next to Alexa.  

"I see what the problem is!" Paloma laughed and wrapped a hand around Alexa's shoulders. 

"It's not funny!" Alexa tried to push her away but Paloma held on tighter.

"I know it is not funny but I find your anger quite amusing." Paloma squeezed her and chuckled. "Many of your peers don't want to hear a thing about responsibilities or problems but here you are getting upset because we didn't involve you in the problem carrying in the family. You are such a blessing."  She squeezed her tighter and kissed her cheek. 

Alexa snorted but her lips curled into a smile. "I agree I am not like many of my peers and that's because I can't see my family in pain and not do anything about it." 

"I understand how you feel. However, your success academically and in general is our comfort and as I told Iris, your prayers are our biggest support. So never think you are not doing anything, understood?"  

"I understand." Alexa grinned. "I feel better knowing I am doing something." 

"Yes, that's the spirit!" Paloma beamed and released her. She went back to her position on the other side of the counter and continued her task.  

The ladies worked in comfortable silence. The sweet aroma of the hot chocolate wafted through the kitchen. 

"Hmm, that reminds me; how is the petition thingy going?" 

Paloma stalled midway in filling a mug with the steaming hot liquid. Her forehead wrinkled and her eyes clouded. 

"It is okay." 

"Hmm, just okay?" 

"Yes, it's doing okay!" Paloma produced a tight-lipped smile. 

"Hmmm, you don't seem excited. Is something wrong?" 

Paloma closed her eyes briefly. The words of the nurse from the retirement home rang in her head. She gripped the handle of the mug to restrain her fraying emotions. 

"Hmmm, there is something definitely wrong!" 

Paloma jumped as Alexa's voice sounded closer than before. She turned and found Alexa standing next to her with curious eyes that bore into her soul and thoughts. 

"Nothing is wrong, Lex." She turned back to continue filling the mugs. 

"You haven't taken the petition around with you lately, right?" 

Paloma stiffened and frowned. Her grip on the mug tightened until she felt a sting on her palm. 

"Are you giving up?" Alexa asked with an incredulous tone. 

Paloma inhaled sharply and turned to face her. "What makes you think that?" 

"Well, you are not determined with it anymore." 

"I have just been busy with other things." Paloma turned away. 

"No! You are afraid of what the government might do if they find out we are behind it." 

Paloma swung back to face her with wide eyes. Shock swimming in them. 

Alexa produced a smirk. "You might not tell me things but I have an idea about what is going on." 

"So if you know, why don't you understand why we have to discontinue the petition?" 

"Because fear has no power over us." Alexa's voice rose with each word. "I understand your fear and I feel scared too. But we are doing the right thing so we don't need to be worried or scared of anyone." 

"It's easier said than done, Lex! We already have so many issues, we don't need to incur the wrath of the government." 

"What?! I never thought you would ever say this. You are letting your fear rule you. As long as you are doing the right thing, you don't need to worry because God will support you." 

Paloma shook her head as tears stung her eyes. 

The warnings of the nurse and the consequences if Newt and the government found out the truth flooded her head and rendered everything fuzzy. 

"It's up to you, Sis!" Alexa's voice broke the fog in her head. "It's your choice to continue till the end or not."

"I am going to serve the drinks."

Paloma watched her carry the tray and walk out. 

Left alone with disturbing thoughts, Paloma didn't feel like facing her family in the emotional condition she was in. So she slipped out of the kitchen and gently took the stairs up to her room.

The door creaked open and she stepped in. A chill hung over the room. Heavy raindrops slammed against the windows. Her legs carried her to her writing desk and there the petition lay in all its glory. 

Her hands traced the curves of all the signatures. She swallowed a lump as her doubts began to creep up on her. Her hands trembled as she picked up the petition and gazed at it. 

What should I do, Lord? 

The room remained silent. Tears rushed forward but she suppressed them. 

Which way should I go? 

Her tears threatened to fall as she still got no answer. However, suddenly, in the stillness of the room, a quiet voice said, Go, my child! I will guide your path. 

A tear rolled down her face and her lips lifted into a watery smile. 

Thank you, Lord! 

One more time! I will give it a try.  

                  ★★★★★★

Ahhh, there you have it! That was an emotional ride, don't you think?

I just love Alexa😁
Who else feels the same way? XD

Another thing, do you think Paloma was right for abandoning the Petition?

Drop your answer in the comments section.

And also don't forget to 👇

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Until next time, extend a helping hand to someone 😁❤