"Hurricane Irma developed from a tropical wave near the end of August, churning over the waters off the African west coast. It jumped from Category 2 to 4 in a matter of days as it began its journey across the ocean, continuing to grow rapidly. According to the Saffir-Simpson scale, Irma has been officially been declared a Category 5 as it nears the Leeward Islands. Residents of these islands are urged to take precautionary measures to safeguard their homes and...."

September 5, 2017

"Hey miss Novia! Did you hear? A hurricane is coming!"

She had heard. The warning came in around mid-morning. Novia had just done some laundry and was hanging it out on the line to dry. She preferred that over a dryer, not that she had one anyway. The fresh smell of an air dried shirt that had been basking in the sun was a welcomed one. The wet clothes against her fingertips as she hung them helped to keep her cool during the extra hot days.

She had just got her old radio working the night before the transmission came in. It broke down months ago, and when she finally fixed it she hadn't expected the first thing she heard would be a hurricane warning. Novia had missed Hurricane Luis in 1995, arriving on Barbuda just a few years after. But in her first year there, she had seen the residual damage still clinging to the island. A knot of dread had formed in her stomach at the thought of experiencing one first hand.

Hurricane Irma, they called it. A Category 5 hurricane.

Novia's first thought was Bembe. Her husband. He was out on the water fishing with his crew and hadn't yet returned. He wasn't scheduled to be home until the following day, but would he make it in time? What would it mean if he didn't? She ran her fingers through her hair roughly, and could still feel his own twining with hers, making her swallow down the lump in her throat. Her entire body ached and she felt sick. Abrianna and Ajay had gone to a friends house for the morning but all she wanted was them back in her sight.

Rosa, a middle-aged woman who lived a few houses down from her own, came running by with a basket clutched under her arm and a bag slung over her shoulder. She was one of the first people Novia had met on Barbuda and they bonded easily. Rosa had originated from Spain like she had.

"Novia!" she called, trotting towards her. "Here!"

She held out the basket and it was full of bottled water. Rosa handed her three of them, then pulled out a loaf of bread from the bag.

"Take these," she said. "Supplies are being dropped off tomorrow morning, but it might be a bit of a frenzy."

"Your kindness knows no bounds, Rosa."

"Any word on Bembe?"

Novia sighed softly, the knot in her stomach twisting. "No. But he's probably on his way back now."

Rosa clutched Novia's shoulder tightly and gave her a hard look. "He's had years out there on rough waters. He'll come back to you."

"Gracias, Rosa. I know he will."

The other woman gave her a reassuring smile before hurrying off towards more houses. Novia watched her go and rubbed at the back of her stiff neck. She closed her eyes as she exhaled slowly. Crickets sang loudly all around her as the heat of the sun enveloped her like a robe. She could do nothing for Bembe at the present. Instead, she would focus on what she was able to do.

Novia spent the rest of the morning clearing away the random debris from her yard; all the loose bits of rope, sheets of metal and broken bicycle seats. She wasn't even sure how they ended up there, but stuffed everything into a garbage bin and secured the lid tightly. After the yard was clear, she went through the house and pulled all the knives from their holders to tape them up in cloth. She even went so far as to tape up cupboards and drawers after pulling all the food from them. She didn't want to use nails in case they were ripped free. Bembe told her that once; never use nails.

She could feel sweat rolling down the side of her face and her back by the time she was finished and decided on a shower before Abrianna and Ajay got home. The water was only luke warm but that was fine with her. It was always one of the few times where it was just her and her thoughts, no one else to worry over or take care of. Just her and the sanctuary of water cascading down her body.

Novia stood under the spray for a long time, letting it take her away to a time with Bembe. She remembered when they first met. It was her first year on Barbuda and she had gone snorkeling. A movement beneath her had drawn her attention and for a moment, she had thought it was tropical fish swimming by. But it hadn't been. It was Bembe. She can't say she was disappointed. It was like watching a shark glide through water; he moved with such ease. When he looked up and saw her, he smiled a smile that lit her from the inside. He tracked her down that night to ask her on a date and grilled fish for her on the beach.

A few years after that, Ajay had been born, and then Abrianna. Bembe was an amazing father, always playing with them and teaching them what he could. They watched him with adoration and fascination. And while all eyes were on him, his eyes were on her. Always her. Whenever he touched her it was like silk against her skin, even those little brushes against her hand as he passed. She could see every inch of him as Novia let the water run over her face. The way his muscles bulged as he worked, the way the right side of his mouth went up a little more than the left each time he smiled, and the way his nose wrinkled just slightly when he laughed.

Novia brought a hand to her mouth, catching the sob that escaped. Tears mingled with water droplets and just for that one moment, she let herself break.

September 6, 2017

Novia left Ajay and Abrianna at home when she went to get more supplies from Emeterio's store. A big cargo plane had brought a load of food, water and emergency kits for the residents of the island and the scene was overwhelming. People were panicking. Shouting. Trying to fight their way through to get as many supplies as they could. Barbuda wasn't prepared to deal with a Category 5 hurricane and the fear had backed them into a corner.

"Please, people," Emeterio tried, "ya must be calm! Everyone will get de supplies dey need!"

Novia saw Rosa near the back of the crowd and went over to her. "How long has he been at it?"

"He's been trying to settle things down for an hour," she replied, leaning in close to be heard. "Everyone is just too scared."

Novia could understand their fear. No one knew if Barbuda could withstand the battering brought on by a hurricane as powerful as Irma. Some kind of control was needed though, before someone got hurt. She backed up, eyes searching the area until she spotted a ratty brown truck a few feet from the crowd. She heard Rosa call out to her as she hurried towards it and hauled herself up onto the hood, her palms nearly burning against the scalding metal. The truck had turned into an oven in the baking sun. Novia could feel the heat against the bottom of her feet, even through her shoes.

Taking a deep breath, she shouted as loud as she could. "EVERYBODY STOP!"

Her voice rang out loud enough that people began looking around for the source. Slowly, the panicked frenzy died down until there was nothing left but curious whispers. They all knew who she was, everyone knew each other on the island, and they stopped to listen.

"There's enough supplies for everyone," Novia said, her voice a little raw from the shout. "We all need to do this calmly or we'll destroy ourselves before this hurricane even has the chance to. Emeterio will see to it that you all are stocked, so please, settle down. This isn't the end of the world. If we work together, we'll all come out the other side of this."

Silence followed, and Novia nodded to Emeterio who gave her a grateful smile. He began to hand out supplies and one by one, each person had food, water and an emergency kit.

A blonde head began making its way through the crowed, pushing through until Annabelle peeled herself free. She stumbled against the hood of the truck and stared up at Novia, wide eyed.

"The pilot left with the plane," she said, her voice trembling.

Novia jumped down from the hood. "He's gone?"

Annabelle nodded, panicked blue eyes a little wild as her gaze raked through the crowd. "We can't get off the island. Kent is trying to call anyone he can reach but he can't get through. What do we do?"

Novia put her hands on her hips and cursed fluidly in Spanish. She hadn't even thought about them. The Williams Family was going to be stuck on Barbuda when the hurricane struck.

"Ok," she said, coming to a quick decision. "You and your family will stay with me."

"What?"

"It's not much, but you won't be alone."

Annabelle was too shaken to protest, and Novia wasn't sure she even would if she wanted to. She may be able to do nothing for Bembe, but she could do something for this family.

September 7, 2017

Hurricane Irma struck in the late morning. The weather had grown worse and worse until most residents of the island were barricaded in their homes or in a designated shelter. Novia and Annabelle had gone to pick up Kent and Sophia and they had helped her board up all the windows. The supplies were taken down to the basement where several mattresses were set up like tents in the corner against the wall. Blankets and pillows were inside where Abrianna was already sitting.

"Why isn't dad here?" Ajay asked, not for the first time.

Novia wasn't even sure what to tell him and swallowed down the hard lump in her throat. Annabelle and Kent had glanced at each other the first time he had asked. They knew what she knew. Bembe wasn't coming home.

"Dad is stuck on his boat right now," Novia was relieved her voice came out steady, "he'll be able to get home after the hurricane passes."

It was the same thing she kept telling him over the last two hours, and she almost believed it. Novia desperately tried to keep her heart in one piece. She knew he would have done his best to get back. But Irma was huge and hungry. Ajay believed it less and less each time she told him he was on his way.

"You're lying!" he shouted, making Abrianna whimper.

"Ajay, please," Novia sighed. "Don't scare your sister."

"Maybe he just needs a light to find his way home," he said with some hope. His eyes darted around until he found a flashlight and snatched it up. "Like a lighthouse!"

Ajay bolted for the stairs before Novia could stop him, and her insides instantly froze. She screamed his name but he didn't slow, his footsteps hurrying up the rickety stairs. Novia threw herself after him, taking the stairs two at a time. She couldn't let Irma take him too.

"Ajay, no! Stop!"

But he had made it to the door by the time she was even halfway through the kitchen. She heard the door bang open and it stayed open as powerful wind gusts tore through. Novia saw him shout something over his shoulder but she couldn't hear, his voice caught in the wind. Her heart hammered in her chest and raw panic ravaged through her veins. She couldn't breathe. Even if she ran forever, she would never catch him. Ajay was far faster than she ever was. He wouldn't survive out there. She screamed his name over and over as she ran after him anyway, and was at the end of the yard when she heard a tiny voice call for her.

"Mommy!"

Abrianna. Novia ground to a stop. Annabelle stood at the doorway with Kent and Abrianna. Annabelle had her hand over her mouth, fear stamped across her features. Abrianna was hanging onto her pants and even from where she was standing, Novia could see the tears tracking her face. The wind battered around her and she could barely stand straight under the sheer force. The sky was an angry dark gray as it swirled overhead. Novia looked back towards Ajay, who was already nearly out of sight. But she knew she couldn't leave Abrianna. Her limbs were stiff and tense at the effort to stay where she was as she watched her only son disappear into the dark.

~~~~~~

Thank you for reading Part 2 of Category 5! If you've enjoyed it, please remember to hit that little vote button and show some love. All comments are welcome!

Stay tuned for Part 3 - Irma, coming soon!