The sky grew dark and it looked like a warning. The air felt heavy and still. Big clouds moved over the fair, and soon, large drops of rain fell.
Maya stood in the middle of the fair. She looked at her beautiful art stands. She had worked on these paintings for months. She ran from tent to tent and held onto ropes and heavy covers. Her hands were shaking. Sweat was in her eyes, and her hair was wet. She was worried.
This is bad, she thought.
Then she saw him.
Adrian stood in the mud. He had rolled up his sleeves. His boots were dirty. He used his strong arms to lift a heavy statue that had fallen. Rain and paint were on his face. The wind was very loud.
"Go inside! Now!" he shouted.
"I can't leave the art!" Maya shouted back.
"The art is not as important as you!" he said. "You must stay safe!"
A strong wind blew. The tents shook. Adrian grabbed a large piece of cloth just in time. He pulled Maya toward him as a pole fell down.
They slipped in the mud. They were scared, but they also laughed. Their hearts beat fast. Their hands touched by mistake. Then, they held hands as they fixed another tent.
For a moment, they forgot everything else. They forgot the fair. They forgot their old problems. It was just the two of them, wet, messy, and happy to be alive.
Suddenly, a very fast wind blew from the water. Adrian jumped in front of the paintings to keep them safe. A piece of wood hit his shoulder. Maya cried out and ran to him.
"Are you okay?" she asked. She held his arm while the rain poured down.
He moved his head to say yes. He pushed his wet hair out of his eyes.
"I will be fine. Just… stay calm. Help me finish this."
Maya nodded. Her hands were still shaking, She but she kept looking at him. He looked brave. He looked like he finally knew what was important.
Right then, Maya knew something.
She didn't want him to leave again.
After a few hours later, the storm stopped. The fair was a mess, but they could fix it. Adrian's clothes were covered in mud, but his eyes looked bright and happy.
Maya leaned against a wet table. She was breathing hard.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly.
"I did have to do it," he answered. He looked at her. "This is not just about the fair. It is about us. I want to show you that I can protect what matters. I want you to trust me."
Maya had tears on her face, mixed with rain. her heart beat fast.
"You are very annoying," she said.
He smiled a little. "I know. But you are still here with me."
Maya bit her lip. She felt a warm feeling in her heart. For the first time in a long time, she felt open and happy. She felt like she could breathe again.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She brought it out and looked at the screen. Her face went pale.