𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝗼𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝗼𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝗼𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝗼𝗺 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝗺𝗼𝐭𝐢𝗼𝐧𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝗼𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝗺.
Iris feels it creeping up on her. The day when feeling becomes too much and she...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
IRIS kicks the door shut behind her just as the first raindrop falls. She breathes out in relief as she drops the last box onto the cool hardwood floor of her new home.
She stretches, letting her muscles find relief after lugging her belongings up to her second floor apartment.
She takes a moment to look around. The main living space is an open concept, with the kitchen towards the back wall.
She's blessed with a bay window and built-in-shelves in her living room, even if the structural integrity is questionable.
To the right of the kitchen is a small hallway leading to her bedroom and bathroom. The entire place is riddled with cobwebs and a musty scent carries in the air but Iris can't help the smile that spreads across her face.
It's hers.
It may be a little dirty and may not feel like home just yet, but it's the first thing she's been able to truly call her own in her eighteen years of life.
A boom of thunder pulls her from her reverie and she rushes over to her bay window. She presses her hands up against the glass, relishing in the cool feeling, and admires the sight of the rain washing the world clean.
Iris has always loved the rain. She loves the sound, the feeling, the smell in the air afterwards.
She believes that as long as rain exists, the world will always have the power to begin anew. Rain is nourishing and Iris has always felt better after a downpour.
She loses track of time as she watches the rain drops race each other down the window pane and she hardly notices as the timid day makes way for the all consuming night.
When the rain stops, she eagerly searches for her shoes so that she can go for a walk. If there is anything she loves more than rain, it's the way the world feels to her afterwards.
Slipping on her worn-down sneakers, she locks her door behind her and uses her phone flashlight to guide her when the street lamps are scarce. She giddily jumps over puddles as she makes her way down the street and into the forest on its edge.
Iris has never been one to be afraid of the dark. She finds comfort in how the night hides her from the prying eyes of the world.
She walks and walks, not really caring where or when she is at the moment.
She admires the stars when they peak through the towering treetops, trusting that the earth beneath her will not let her fall.
The forest life gravitates towards her as she walks, plants reaching to brush her hands and insects flying to give her a kiss in greeting
She reaches an odd wall of moss, concealing her from what lies beyond it. Her curiosity spikes as she reaches out her hand and gingerly pushes the moss to the side so she can step through.
