Heather

Suddenly, a raindrop fell on my cheek, followed by another and another. Within seconds, the sky opened up, and a heavy rainfall began again, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Race you to the hut!" Ivik challenged me. His eyes sparkled with mischief, even as the rain started pelting down more heavily. With a loud, hearty laugh, he sprinted towards the old cabin where we had built our own kingdom all those years ago.

Our laughter echoed through the forest as we ran like two kids escaping reality again. Mud splattered onto our clothes as we slipped and slid through the heavy downfall. By the time we reached our...