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Pepa woke up from her slumber. Her vision was hazy as she took in her surroundings for a bit, then it hit her. It was dark.
Panic immediately filled her mind and she flew up from her bed, stumbling a bit from the sudden rush to her head. She ran over to her window and looked outside. In the distance she could see some villagers make their way to casita.
Pepa’s breathing quickened and tears stung her eyes. There was no electricity left, and they were coming for her.
She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around herself in a defensive embrace. She was about to have a panic attack, about to fall and crumble like a house of cards. "Not now. Please not now."
Ever since she was a child, she had been in charge of storing electricity to the town. In order to do that, she had use her gift to summon thunder. The downfall is that thunder is linked with sadness and anger, so how do you make it come out?
By being angered or saddened by something.
Pepa had spent years trying to master her emotions, but there were days where she just could not summon her thunder. On the days where Pepa felt drained and numb to her emotions, the villagers took it upon themselves to try to rail her up. They would call her names, throw things at her and harass her until she was an angry sobbing mess.
It made Pepa feel inhuman, like she was some sort of object or tool that was only there to benefit the village.
On the days where she wanted and needed comfort from her mother, Alma would deny her and tell her to toughen up. “The villagers need power, and you have the responsibility to give it to them”, she would say.
The loud knocking on her door startled her, and she could hear Alma yell through it. “Pepa! The village is out of power!”
Pepa had to bite back her sobs. She didn’t want her mama to hear her. Félix was no where to be seen which made her panic even more. He always helped her through stuff like this.
She breathed heavily, her body heaving as she did so. She didn’t want to do this, she wanted Félix, but she tried to gather up some courage and calm herself. She clenched the fabric of her dress and inhaled sharply. She stood up and used her arm to wipe away her tears.
She walked over to the door and muttered 'clear skies' a couple of times before she opened it. The person she saw in the doorway surprised her. She expected to see her mother but no, it was Félix.
"I woke up before you did. I talked to them."
Pepa felt her body betray her as tears started to fall. He immediately hugged her, not caring about her damp dress from the previous tears she had shed.
“They will leave you alone for now.” He said in a quiet, hushed voice.
Pepa’s trembling arms slowly wrapped themselves around Félix, and her head fell into his shoulder. She held onto him tightly as her silent cries turned into sobs.
Félix rubbed comforting circles on her back. “I’m here with you now. They wont hurt you.”
Quiet little raindrops started to dot on them, but they ignored it. “Come on, let’s go back to bed.” Félix led her to their bed. He laid her down and hugged her.
Pepa buried her face in his chest. "I-I-" She hiccuped.
"Shh, it's okay." Félix ran his fingers through her hair. "You can rest mi amor."
Pepa let the sound of her husbands heartbeat calm her down and her eyelids fluttered. She breathed deeply and her hands slowly raised to her braid, but before they could touch it, Félix took her hands in his. "Its okay to feel sad, please don't hold it back."
She swallowed. "It-it's just so hard." She was whispering.
"I know." He cooed. "Pepa you are the strongest person I have ever met. I cant even begin to comprehend how you manage to do all the things you do." She was quiet. "You also have so many people who love and adore you. Our children all love you dearly. Your siblings and sobrinas love you so so much."
The raindrops were fewer now, she yawned and he continued talking. "I also love you more than you know. You are my favourite person and I wouldn't want to change anything about you. You are perfect just the way you are."
He pulled away so he could look at her face. She was sleeping. Her lips were slightly parted and she quietly breathed through them. She looked so small now, so vulnerable.
Félix smiled, hugged her again and went to sleep himself.