Whispered Voices

Prologue They say you can tell when a storm is coming, but only if you pay attention. Growing up along the Florida shoreline I should have known this. When you grow up here, the signs are easy to see. It's second nature to watch for them. When a storm is near, there are subtle changes. There may be a shift in the wind that brings the salty smell of the sea on shore, the temperature can fluctuate from ever so slight to drastic, and the seabirds’ flight pattern could take a sudden turn. If you watch the clouds as they cover the horizon, you can see the storm approaching from miles away. The sky gets darker, the wind picks up and the temperature drops. There's a static to the air, even though there's no thunder or lightning. You can feel the change starting around you. But only if you're paying attention. That day I let my guard down, and I wasn't paying attention. The storm came up on me without warning, and I paid the price. That was the day everything changed, and my life suddenly went in directions I have never conceived. The day I heard the first storm voice.