Rain

On Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at 10:40 PM, it rained a perfect rain. There was no buildup. The skies never darkened. It just happened. It was not raining before, and now it was. The drops fell with quick and stealthy force, only visible under the glow of the street lights, and only to be heard when they struck the pavement. The hiss of the rain muffled the laughter of the drinkers seated under cafe umbrellas at the outdoor bar across the street. The lightning reached down from the sky and clawed at the antennas in the distance as the thunder bellowed, beckoning my attention. And I humored the thunder. I sat cross-legged on the windowsill, sandwiched between the glass and the curtain, staring at the sky, eyes wide, both stimulated and entertained. Then the storm was gone. The sky became quiet and clear as the moon came out of hiding. The shouts returned as drinkers stumbled into the streets. Four gummies' worth of melatonin ushered me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to my mother gently rubbing my shoulder and whispering for me to get up. At breakfast, there was no mention of a storm or flooding. On the walk to school, there were no fallen branches, no damp socks, just wet sidewalks.