Rain - Flash Fiction

Miss by Wang Ling

Rain

By Emmett J Hall

“Sweetheart, it’s time.”

“Oh, I don’t know Mom.  I don’t think I’m ready,” Sue raised her wide eyes from the Harlequin Romance in her lap. She unwrapped her legs out from under her in the soft overstuffed chair, dogeared the book, and set it on the end table.  The clock showed 11:45.

Sue had hoped that reading would settle the butterflies in her stomach.  The book only helped a little.  Now it was time, her stomach felt like a gross of cocoons had dislodged their winged inhabitants, and they were bursting to get out.  

“Get your umbrella and jacket. The email said your rain will start at noon.  It will only be for an hour.”  Mom opened the closet and pulled her light fuchsia umbrella out along with a matching short jacket.

Sue took the jacket.  “Do I need to put jeans on?”

“No, Sweetie.  It’s a warm rain.  You’ll see. I remember my rain like it was yesterday.  Your father was such a brooder.  His rain was so thick I hardly could see him in the column. You’ve heard the story many times.  I’ll just let you go.” 

            Sue stood in the threshold of the townhouse facing the narrow alleyway.  The sky presented a pinkish-gray overcast high in the air as though the sun would burn it off any minute from now.  No dark threatening, moisture-laden clouds showed. 

            One step into the alley, Sue felt a drop hit her shoulder.  She snapped open her umbrella and raised it over her head.  The heavens opened, and a gentle rain fell straight in the windless alley.  Did it matter if she just kept walking or if she ducked between two buildings and took another path?  Would her soulmate still find her?  Suspecting he would, with her heart pounding, she didn’t vary and kept walking.     

~~~

Tim twisted his wrist, pulled back the sleeve to his dark leather jacket to see his watch.  11:58. He leaned his scooter against a light pole at the end of the alley that the email directed him to go to and withdrew his umbrella from the box perched on the end of his seat and pushed it open.

The instant he raised the rain-guard over his head, the rain began.  Tim was a long way down the alley before realizing he hadn’t taken his helmet and goggles off.  He meant to leave them in the box, but he spent so much time as a messenger on his scooter the protections were like a normal part of him.  Then again, he had to admit he might be a bit nervous. 

Rationally, he knew he didn’t have all that much to be jittery about.  He was studious, only two months from graduating with his Finance degree, had a job lined up to replace his part-time messenger job.  Tim considered himself good-looking if a person could get the headgear off him.  His mom accused him of showering with it on.  He took the jabbing with good spirits, although he admitted leaving life on a scooter behind didn’t bother him in the least. 

The most important chapter of his life had come.  The rain.  There was no surprise when the email came.  He expected it.  The perfect mate, a life partner to shoulder the rest of life with, was out here.  It was all a bit heady, like waiting for Christmas, knowing it was months ahead then suddenly the day was upon him.  Had he done all he could do to be ready?  He thought so, but then what could he have forgotten.  Doubt crowded out the moment.

The rain stopped.  Tim lowered his umbrella and looked up at the high overcast.  This can’t be good.  Had he, in one beat of his heart, become unworthy.  Was he letting his doubts slid him down a dark path unworthy of the perfect woman?  Way down the alley, he could see a column of rain slowly working its way toward him. 

It had to be her.  Oh, my gosh.  What am I to do?  Would she accept me without my rain? I will soon find out.  Tim couldn’t let the moment pass.  As much as he felt like turning and running back to his scooter.  He needed this woman.  She was the part of him that was to be the best part of him.  He prepared himself to be the best of husbands.  The girl deserved the best, and he was ready to be just that. 

“Here goes,” Tim muttered to himself.  He raised the umbrella again as he stepped down the alley, the rain fell on him.

Tim glanced up in his googles and whispered, “Thank you.”  All it took was for him to get over himself and think of his approaching love.

~~~

The young pair, the slender scooter boy, and the thin romance reader met in the center of the alley and stopped.

The rain merged. 

Sue said, “Hello.”

Tim said, “Hello.”

The End