I reached down and grabbed her legs, dragging her slightly to clear some space in the middle of the room. Then I repositioned myself, lowering one knee to the ground and sliding one arm under her back while the other went beneath her legs.
"Aah… come on…"
I tried to lift her.
My strength gave out halfway, and I had to stop before I dropped her.
I took a breath and adjusted my grip.
This time, I lifted more carefully, using my legs instead of my shoulder. I managed to raise her partway and rested her weight briefly against my knee so I could steady myself. After a second, I pushed through the strain and lifted her fully into my arms.
She felt heavier than she looked, or maybe I was just too worn down to carry anyone properly.
I turned slowly and walked toward the exit.
The rain had not stopped.
As I stepped outside, I noticed the smell again. It was faint but unmistakable, something metallic mixed into the rain itself, something that did not belong.
