Not So Vibrant, Not So Dull (draft) ✔

Chapter Four: Rain On Me

You liked rain. You liked it so much. Even though it made you feel a little sad, you loved the melancholy it brought. You used to say the pitter-patter calmed you as much as it made you feel sad. I used to wonder why it always seemed to rain when we were together. I guess it was because of you. It was your blessing and the curse.

The rain was soft, almost a whisper against the window, creating a rhythmic patter that filled the room like an old, familiar lullaby. It fell in silver sheets, the drops catching the light from the dim lamps inside, making the garden outside blur into a canvas of deep blues and greys. The air was cool, crisp with the scent of wet earth and fresh grass, while the gentle storm painted everything in shades of melancholy. Yet, within this cocoon of warmth, wrapped in a blanket, it was anything but sad. It was intimate, the kind of quiet only two people could share while the world washed away outside.

I shifted closer to you, the fabric of the blanket soft between us, and felt the way your body relaxed into mine. You were warm, content, but your eyes were far away, following the path of the rain as it danced against the windowpane.

"When I was back at the orphanage, I used to throw tantrums when it rained," you said, a soft chuckle slipping through your words, your lips twitching into a half-smile.

"Because you were feeling sad?" I asked, my voice low, matching the hush of the storm outside.

"No," you shook your head, still smiling, "They wouldn't let me go out. I wanted to dance in the rain."

You looked at me then, your eyes meeting mine, and in that gaze, I saw it—the child you once were, full of defiance and longing, the desire to break free from the walls that kept you inside. There was a spark there, something wild and untamed, something that hadn't been dulled by life's trials.

"They were probably just worried you'd get sick," I murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from your face, my fingers lingering on your cheek.

"They were," you sighed, your gaze drifting back to the rain. "But when I was a little older than that, I'd just sit under the shower when it rained and imagine being outside, dancing in it."

For a moment, we were both silent, listening to the sound of the rain beating steadily against the world outside. I watched the way the raindrops trailed down the glass, tracing unpredictable paths like the emotions swirling between us. The world felt both distant and so very close, suspended in the stillness of the moment.

Without thinking, I tossed the blanket aside, the warmth of it giving way to the cool air. You looked at me, startled, and I could see the question in your eyes. I didn't answer with words. Instead, I stood, holding out my hand, inviting you into the world outside. Into the rain.

You hesitated for only a second before slipping your hand into mine. Together, we stepped out into the storm, the chill of the rain hitting us like a shock, but it didn't matter. The moment your feet touched the wet earth, you laughed—a sound so pure, so full of life, it cut through the grey like a ray of light. The rain soaked us instantly, our clothes clinging to our bodies, but it felt exhilarating.

You pulled me into the dance, your hands on my waist, guiding me through the puddles, spinning me around. The rain was relentless, falling in heavy drops that streaked down your face, mingling with your laughter. The garden around us blurred into motion, the black, blue, and white of the world swirling together in a beautiful chaos. Your eyes found mine again, shining, full of that same wild spark, the rain framing your face like a portrait I wanted to memorise.

I pulled you closer, our bodies swaying in time with the rhythm of the storm, our movements fluid and free. It felt like we were the only two people in the world, spinning under a sky painted with storm clouds and lightning. You leaned your forehead against mine, your breath mingling with the rain, and in that moment, the world was both quiet and alive, drenched in shades of black, blue, white, and grey.