Juliette arrived in Grindelwald on a cold, gray afternoon, when the sky, like a leaden sheet, hung over the towering mountains. Low, heavy, water-laden clouds drifted silently over the old wooden roofs, and then, drop by drop, slowly fell onto the winding dirt road leading into the village, splashing dark mud onto the thin skirt of the thirteen-year-old girl sitting silently in the carriage, which swayed with each pothole. The damp air, carrying the scent of decaying wood, cold earth, and mountain mist, seeped into the carriage through the small cracks, making Juliette shiver. Her hands trembled as she clutched her dress tightly, as if letting go would swallow her whole, unfamiliar world. Juliette's shy brown eyes gazed out through the hazy rain, where small wooden houses huddled together as if seeking warmth, slender chimneys rising wisps of gray smoke that dissolved into the dark sky. Everything seemed both ancient and distant, so different from the town where she used to live, with its dry, cobblestone streets and the frequent afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. Opposite Juliette, her mother sat upright, her face serious, but her eyes betrayed an undeniable anxiety. Her worn, gloved hands clutched a cloth bag containing their meager possessions. Occasionally, she would glance out the car window, her gaze searching for some sign to reassure herself that this long journey was the right decision, that bringing Juliette to Grindelwald to remarry would bring a more stable future. Juliette didn't dare ask, nor did she dare express her fear, because she understood her mother was too tired after years of raising her alone, after long evenings mending dresses under the flickering oil lamp, and after silently counting every coin to buy enough bread for the two of them. So she just bowed her head, listening to the steady rhythm of the rain on the roof of the car like an endless, sad melody. The road into the village narrowed, lined on both sides with tall, dark trees, their wet branches intertwined, obscuring the rare sunlight from the sky, making Juliette feel as if she were stepping into a world separated from the rest of humanity, where time slowed down and everything was shrouded in a thin layer of loneliness. As the carriage stopped at the edge of the village, the soft sound of horse hooves echoed on the ground. Juliette startled, looking up, her little heart pounding in her chest. The rain continued to fall incessantly, each icy drop touching her cheek as the carriage door opened, bringing with it the chill of the mountains and making her shiver once more. Before her was a small road leading deep into the village. Oil lamps hanging from the eaves of the houses cast a dim light through the heavy rain, their weak yellow light reflecting on the wet ground in long, shimmering, yet melancholic streaks. Her mother stepped down first, her leather shoes stained with mud, then turned to help Juliette, her hand warm but trembling slightly, as if she too were afraid of this unfamiliar place. Juliette stepped onto the ground, the cold from the wet mud seeping through her thin shoes, making her shiver slightly. In that moment, she suddenly remembered her old home, the small room with the window that always let in the sunlight, the birdsong every morning, and the smell of freshly baked bread from the shop at the end of the street—all of it now seemed to belong to another life. They walked slowly towards the large wooden house near the edge of the village, where the man Juliette's mother was about to remarry was waiting. The house looked sturdier than the others, with its high roof and heavy wooden doors, the smoke rising steadily from the kitchen chimney a testament to a stable life, but to Juliette, it was like a closed door leading to a future full of strangeness.
On the way, she noticed the curious glances of some villagers standing under the eaves sheltering from the rain, their sun-tanned faces and silent, unfriendly stares causing Juliette to lower her head even further, her small shoulders hunched as if wanting to disappear into the downpour. The distant church bells rang out, deep and slow, blending with the falling rain to create a lingering, melancholic sound, like a sad farewell to the newcomer. When they stopped before the large wooden house, Juliette felt her heart tighten. She didn't know what the man inside would be like, what his new life would be like, only that from this moment on, there was no turning back. The wooden door creaked open with a heavy sound, and warmth mingled with the smell of burning wood and hot soup, a stark contrast to the damp, cold outside. Even so, Juliette felt no better, for this warmth wasn't her home, at least not yet. The tall, imposing man stood at the door, his face stern but his eyes feigning gentleness. He greeted her mother in a low voice, while Juliette only bowed slightly, not daring to look him in the eye, her heart pounding like a drum. Stepping inside, she heard the crackling of wood in the fireplace, the firelight casting long, swaying shadows on the dark wooden walls. The room was larger than anywhere she had ever lived, yet cold in its own unique way, as if the vast space only highlighted the smallness of the newcomer. Her mother talked to the man about the journey, the rain, the slippery road, while Juliette sat on a hard wooden chair, legs together, hands on her thighs, eyes fixed on the floor, listening to their conversation without truly understanding. In her mind, only the sound of the rain outside echoed, steady and incessant. She thought about the future, about the days to come living in this strange village, getting used to strange people, having to call another man her stepfather, and the thought made her throat tighten. The rain continued to fall, as if it had no intention of stopping, each drop sliding down the small windowpane, reflecting the firelight inside in shimmering streaks of light that quickly vanished, like the fragile hopes in Juliette's heart at that moment. She didn't know that these seemingly melancholic rains would become an important part of her life, that they would bring her someone who would warm her heart amidst the cold, and that the rain would also engrave an indelible memory.