Haunted memories

Chapter 17

Alice's POV

The day at work had started like any other, and I was focused, determined to get through my workload before lunch. But as the morning wore on, I began to notice a shift outside. The sky was darkening, the once-bright light filtering through the windows now muted and gray. I brushed it off, thinking it was just a passing cloud—until I saw Carol rushing toward me, her eyes wide with urgency.

"Alice, it's about to rain," she said, her voice low, as if she knew what that meant for me.

My heart instantly picked up its pace, and I forced a calm smile, hoping she wouldn't see the faint tremble in my hands. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll just… wrap this up quickly."

But as I attempted to finish typing, the first low rumble of thunder shook the building. My fingers froze over the keyboard. This wasn't just any rain; it was that heavy August rain, the kind I'd always hoped wouldn't come this early in the season. I hadn't been prepared. And now, the memories I'd pushed