"Pittsburgh will continue to see heavy rain fall late into tomorrow afternoon. This marks the 4th day in a row that it has rained. I just got word that the current measurement of rain is up to 3 feet!" The weatherman on my TV said in a overly happy voice.

"yeah, you're not panicking because you don't live right on a lake" i said in a dry tone as i shoveled water off of my basement floor and out of the window.

There was no use. The water was ready up to my ankles and when i shoveled it out, it just went in my yard and right back onto my floor.

I cussed under my breath when i realized that i would have to stay somewhere else for a few days because the electricity would have to be shut off, just until i could get somebody out here to get this damn standing water out.

I skimmed over the numbers in my phone until i saw Mario Lemieux's number.

I shot him a text asking if i could have my old bedroom at his house back for a few days and i almost instantly received a message back saying that they would be gone on vacation for a month but I was more than welcome to stay for however long I needed.

I smiled and thanked god for the Lemieux's as i ran up to my bedroom and started throwing my clothes and toiletries into an Easton duffle bag. I packed lightly, knowing i still had clothes in my bedroom at their house.

I swore out loud multiple times as i tracked through the lake that was now in my front yard. When i finally made it to my grey Range Rover, i was relieved that i still had a towel in the front seat from yesterdays morning skate.

after i dried my body and hair off, i started up the car and drove the 15 minutes to Mario and Nathalie's home that was, thank god, rested on top of a high hill without a lake in the backyard.

i dug the spare key to their house out of my pocket and quickly opened the door and ran in to get out of the rain.

i noticed right away that the lights in the kitchen were on and there was an empty wine glass sitting on the counter.

"huh. That's not like Nathalie at all" I said right before I heard a trembling voice threaten me with a gun.

"i have a gun and i will shoot you if you don't get out of my house!" The small but audibly upset voice said from behind the wall that separates the kitchen and the dining room.

"whoa! Don't shoot! I have permission to be here! Who are you? What are you doing here?!" I said while quietly grabbing a knife from the knife block on the counter top.

"bullshit. This is my house. You aren't supposed to be here!" She shouted back from the dining room.

Your house....Mario and Nathalie are gone...the only other person that would be here is.....


"Leah?!" I yelled in a semi excited voice.

"How do you know my name?! Don't step any closer or i will shoot you! We have video cameras all over the house! The cops will catch you if you try running!" She practically screamed in a high pitched, frantic voice.

"Leah! It's me, Sidney! Sid the kid! I used to live here when you were younger!" I spilled out while smiling like a kid on christmas morning.

I saw a flash of brown hair and a set of small terrified eyes peek around the corner of the wall. When she finally registered who i was, she dropped the small black gun down on the table and walked towards me with her jaw hanging low and shame in her eyes.

"oh my god" was all she got out before i lunged toward her and picked her up into a spinning hug.

"oh my god" was said again but in a tone of happiness this time instead of panic.

"you're back...."