rain

Jun felt lost.

He felt like he was missing something.
Like he was incomplete.

Like a teddy bear without a face or a doll without an arm.

Everyone else was perfect in his eyes. Everyone else had something he didn't.

The ability to move forward.

Jun tried moving on. He tried fitting in, he really really tried.

But the more you try, the more it hurts when you fail.

Jun hated the pain.
So he stopped trying.

He simply existed in the same world as others. Except everyone was walking around him, as he was standing.
Standing in one place.

He really wanted to lift his leg. To take a step.

But his body didn't listen to him.

He thought maybe he needs to change the method.

Instead of trying to change his environment, he tried changing himself.

He thought about it like a little garden.

He watered the plants, he gave them light, warmth and good soil.

He repeated it until they were blooming.

Their flowers were beautiful.
Some were bright, others pastel.
He felt proud of them.
He left like it was worth it.

He felt ready to take a step forward.

And so he did.

But everyone around him was already far away. They were able to take multiple steps at a time when Jun was taking one.

Jun felt left out.

He felt lost again.

He realized that his garden was only visible for him.

Nobody else could see it, since they all had their own gardens.

He felt like he was going crazy.

What if only he is the one that has a garden?
What if his garden wasn't real?
Did he imagine everything?

He needed confirmation from someone.

But he didn't have anybody.

Jun came back to his garden.

It's been a while.

All the flowers were dead.

So he worked hard.

He watered them, he changed the soil, he gave them warmth and light.

But nothing was happening.

Flowers refused to grow.

His garden was ruined.

Even the sky darkened.

He had never seen this.

In his garden, there weren't normal conditions.
In his garden, the sun and sky didn't exist.
In his garden, he had to give the plants everything they needed himself.

Why were there clouds now? Where did they come from?

It started raining.

Jun made a shelter for his plants.

But the rain always seemed to find a way in.

He built multiple shelters, dozens of times.

Without an effect.

The rain was unstoppable.

Why?

What did he do to deserve this?

He just wanted to take care of his garden.

His garden helped him take another step.

But now he was just standing.

Why?
Why can't his garden grow?
Why is it still raining?

He stood in his garden.

Rain was wetting his clothes.

He didn't notice himself crying.

Why is it still raining?

His tears fell on his plants, turning the soil red.

Why is it still raining?

He did what he was supposed to do.

He took care of his garden, he built multiple shelters for it.

Why is it still raining?

Jun didn't understand.

Why is it still raining?

The question was ringing in his head.

Why is it still raining?

Please stop.

Why is it still raining?

Jun wanted it to stop.

Why is it still raining?

Please.

Why is it still raining?

He covered his ears and looked down.

The whole soil was red.

Tears fell down his cheeks. Or was it the rain?

Why is it still raining?

He cried louder.

But it was his garden.

Nobody else was here.
Nobody could hear him.
Nobody could help him.

Jun wanted it to end.

He was tired of the rain.

But the rain didn't stop.

Why is it still raining?

In his garden, there were many plants. They had beautiful flowers. Every plant had a small shape around it. Some were from rocks, others were from bark. Shapes were all different. You could see a circle, a heart, a square, a flower. Many different shapes.

Now these shapes were ruined or incomplete. All the plants were dead. On the sides of the garden there were some wooden planks and other scraps of shelters Jun tried to build.

But where is Jun?

He wasn't in his garden.

He wasn't standing among the people.

He wasn't there.

Jun was tired.

So he can now rest in peace.

Or maybe not.

After all,

It's still raining in his garden.