00:00That night, wind tore at the windows and thunder crashed down.
00:05Annie shrunk under her covers.
00:07Then a worse fear came to me.
00:10Damien was terrified of thunder.
00:14Six years ago, that crash happened on a night like this.
00:17He lost both parents and lost the use of his legs.
00:21After that, every storm left him burning with fever and pain.
00:25He was proud, never let anyone stay, and bore it locked alone in his room.
00:30I leaned softly to her ear.
00:32Go check on your daddy.
00:34Tonight will be very hard for him.
00:36Annie threw off the blanket.
00:39She was small, shaking at the thunder, but she decided to protect her father.
00:44I breathed easier and followed behind her.
00:47She slid off the bed and crept out of the room.
00:52The hallway was pitch black.
00:55She found Damien's door and quietly turned the handle.
01:01The room was dark.
01:03By a flash of lightning, Annie and I saw him on the bed.
01:07Damien was curled up, grabbing the sheets, shaking.
01:12A pained groan caught in his throat.
01:15He was very sick.
01:18My heart broke for him.
01:23Annie walked over and touched his burning forehead with her small hand.
01:27Daddy, don't be scared.
01:29His body jerked stiff.
01:30He forced his bloodshot eyes open and stared at my daughter.
01:36Lightning flashed again.
01:38Annie used her own sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
01:42A curse came from the doorway.
01:45The light snapped on.
01:47Cole stood there in pajamas, white as a sheet, pointing a shaking finger at Annie.
01:55What the hell?
01:57Annie, why are you standing here in the dark?
02:00You're that creepy kid crawling out of the TV, trying to scare me to death?
02:03Cole had woken from the thunder too, hoping his brother would steady his nerves.
02:08Instead, his little niece nearly scared him to death.
02:11Damien pushed himself upright, breathing hard, his forehead soaked in cold sweat.
02:16He ignored his brother and looked only at Annie, his voice rough.
02:20Why are you here?
02:22Annie scrambled onto the bed and ignored the sweat.
02:25She burrowed into his arms and patted his back.
02:28I came to stay with you.
02:30Mommy said when it thunders, having someone close makes the fear go away.