That Rainy Day

1|Evelyn

Evelyn's POV:

I will always remember the day that my mother passed away. It was the day that brought sadness and disappointment into my life. Father and I moved away shortly afterward. He told us that it would be better to move on. He was lying to me. Because I had seen what he had done on the night mother passed away.

I walked outside to get some fresh air. After a while of being outside, I decided to sit down to rest. It was a beautiful day. As I was sitting, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching me. "Are you okay?" I looked up to see a boy my age asking me. "Yeah!" I answered but I was lying.

But then it was as if he knew, he offered his hand to me and I accepted. On our way home, he asked me things like which school was I planning to go to, and how we could be in the same class since I was going to his school. Before I had even noticed, I had arrived home. As much as I wished Mother was still alive to welcome me back; I had to face reality.

The next day was my first day of school, and almost as if it were a coincidence, I got to sit next to the boy I met yesterday. I soon found out that his name is Jake. I was looking at him more closely today. He was very good-looking. His brown radiant eyes shone in the sun. Jake sat next to me during lunch, and we continued to talk about our hobbies and got to know each other.

Jake and I continued to become great friends throughout the school years. And now we were in the final year of middle school everything was going great until... "Evelyn, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Kalani." When he said that my heart was hurting almost like I had gotten shot. Throughout the years, we have remained friends. While I had fallen for him. I didn't dare to say anything because I was afraid that I would lose him as my best friend.

"Wow, congrats you two look good together!"

"Oh, and Evelyn, I'm sorry I won't be able to make it this Friday."

This is also what I was afraid of... him growing away from me once he got a girlfriend. "Yeah, I understand!" That was probably the last conversation we have ever had after he had a girlfriend. I was miserable, but then it was time for the annual science fair project, and I was partnered up with Jake.

"Wait, I want to be partners with Jake!"

Kalani was upset.

Jake being in a relationship made me miserable, but now I had to deal with being the third wheel in the relationship. After school, Jake texted me about the location we would meet up when we worked on the project, and we both agreed to go to a library. I wasn't too excited, since I knew that Jake would most likely invite his girlfriend to come along.

"Oh, hey Evelyn, I didn't know you would be here! I hope you don't mind me." Just like I had guessed she was there. "Oh no, I would love to have you here!"
I tried to ignore her presence the whole time while we were working on our project. However, Kalani kept nagging about how bored she was. Then I just couldn't control it! "If you don't want to be here you can leave!"

As I looked over at Jake, he looked shocked and then that shocked face soon turned into anger. "Evelyn, how could you say something like that?!"

"Well if your girlfriend wasn't complaining so much there wouldn't be a problem!"

That was probably the most regrettable thing I've ever said.

***

The next day at school I sat all alone not that I really cared but something just felt missing. After what had happened Jake went our separate ways. The years passed by very slowly. Jake quickly moved on from me, and our friendship.

During that time, I decided to put more effort into studying and becoming a successful person. I took care of myself. Found new friends, but yet I was never content. I then went on to college. Then I graduated.

Time kept passing by. Snow started to fall, and the next thing I knew it was summer again. Time was fast yet slow. 1-year passes...10 years... Now 15 years...

Jake's mother was now in the hospital that I work in. Although I didn't wish for this type of reunion... it happened. This time I met Jake not as a friend, but as the role of a doctor and a patient.

Jake never once thought that his mother would hide her sickness from him. I hated being the person who had to deliver the bad news to him. And then I met the person that I didn't expect to bump into... Kalani.

"Ah, I'm so sorry-Evelyn?!" Instead of answering her I just quietly walked away but she was persistent. "Wow, I would've never expected you to be here!"
In return, I simply ignored her and walked away.

Jake's mother seems to get worse by day. I would try to come visit her every chance that I could. I ran into Kalani a few more times and each time I would see Kalani she would argue with Jake, and then leave the hospital silently.

Jake's relationship didn't seem great... As much as I hated how Jake broke our friendship due to his relationship, the truth was I never really got over him because I've always wondered what would have happened if I had confessed first.

After a few hours, I got a call from Jake's phone.
"Hello, is this 'Evelyn'?" This was not Jake speaking on the phone so I asked them who they were and they answered "We're sad to inform you, but he has passed. "Since you're the person they've called the most, we decided to call you and inform you of this loss and prepare for the funeral. We are truly sorry."

But Jake was still alive just a few hours ago. I couldn't understand what could've happened within hours. The next day at work I asked everyone about Jake's mother. In which they answered that she was on her deathbed. After hearing that I came to visit Jake's mother, but what I hated the most was that I couldn't tell her that her son had passed away since she was on her deathbed. But I knew that I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if I lied. I still did it because I was worried that she couldn't go in peace. I had told her that Jake was going on a business trip and would not come back until a month later.

That night I came home and I asked myself the same questions as before. What if I had courage?