Yura stood at the entrance of the library, watching the rain pour down heavily from the sky, each drop hitting the ground like a soft melody, pulling at something deep within her. She used to love the rain—how it always made the world seem quieter, softer. It used to remind her of simpler times when she would dance freely under the downpour, laughing without a care.
But now, as she stood there, the rain only reminded her of how much had changed. She saw parents waiting by the side of the street, sheltering their children under large umbrellas. Couples walked hand in hand, laughing as they huddled together to keep warm. And some simply stood in the rain, eyes searching the horizon, waiting for someone they loved to arrive.
The sight made her heart ache. She couldn’t help but feel that familiar emptiness, the one she had tried so hard to ignore. For a moment, Yura allowed herself to wonder—if anyone would ever come for her. Would someone run through the rain to find her, to make sure she wasn’t standing alone in the cold?
Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had been holding back. Memories flashed in her mind—moments with Ru Shi, the quiet nights they spent apart, the coldness that had settled between them. She felt lost in the storm, just as she had felt lost in her marriage, wondering if anyone cared enough to bring her back.
And then, as if the universe had heard her silent plea, she saw a figure running toward her through the rain. The shape of the person was blurry at first, but as he came closer, her heart skipped a beat. It was Ru Shi, the last person she expected to see.
His face was full of worry, his usually composed expression replaced by one of desperation as he ran, holding an umbrella over his head. His eyes locked onto hers the moment he reached the library entrance, panting slightly from the run.
“Yura,” he called out, his voice filled with concern. “What are you doing out here in this rain?”
She blinked, still processing the fact that he was standing in front of her. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. The emotions bubbling inside her made it hard to form words.
“I… I was just…” she stammered, but her voice faltered, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over.
Ru Shi stepped closer, reaching out to gently grasp her hand. “Come with me. You’ll catch a cold standing out here like this.”
Yura hesitated, pulling her hand back slightly. “No… I’m fine. I don’t need—”
“Please,” he interrupted, his tone softer now, almost pleading. “Don’t be stubborn. Just come with me.”
Before she could protest further, Ru Shi gently took her hand again, his grip firm yet gentle. He opened the umbrella wider, sheltering her from the rain as they began to walk. She noticed that while the umbrella covered her, Ru Shi was getting soaked. The cold rain dripped down his face, soaking his clothes, but he didn’t seem to care.
They walked side by side in silence, the world around them muffled by the sound of rain hitting the ground. The car was parked nearby, but when Ru Shi tried to start it earlier, it wouldn’t turn on. So, they walked. They walked like two strangers who had somehow found their way back to each other, even if just for this moment.
Yura glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His usually neat hair was drenched, water running down his neck and soaking his shirt. He was shivering slightly, but he never let go of her hand or moved the umbrella away from her. He was shielding her from the cold while taking it all on himself.
Her heart clenched at the sight. Despite everything—the hurt, the misunderstandings, the distance—here he was, standing in the rain, putting her first without even thinking about it.
“You’re going to get sick,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.
Ru Shi smiled, a small, sad smile. “I don’t care,” he said softly, his eyes meeting hers for a moment. “As long as you’re not.”
Yura felt her chest tighten, the weight of his words settling heavily in her heart. She hadn’t expected him to come for her, to be the one running through the rain like something out of a movie. But here he was, drenched and cold, but still by her side.
They walked in silence, the air between them filled with unspoken emotions, the rain serving as a backdrop to the storm inside their hearts.
As they reached the corner of the street, Yura finally stopped. She turned to face him, her eyes searching his face, trying to understand the man who had once felt like a stranger but was now standing before her, drenched and vulnerable.
“Why… why did you come for me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Ru Shi’s eyes softened, his expression filled with a quiet sadness. He took a step closer, his hand still holding hers as he spoke, his voice raw and honest.
“Because I couldn’t let you stand in the rain alone. Not again.”
The words hit Yura like a wave, washing over her, pulling her deeper into emotions she had tried so hard to bury. She wanted to respond, to tell him how much those words meant, but her voice was stuck in her throat.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Yura realized that maybe, just maybe, Ru Shi wasn’t as distant as she had thought. Maybe he had been waiting for her too, in his own way, fighting his own battles just as she had been fighting hers.
The rain continued to fall around them, but for a moment, it felt like the world had paused, leaving just the two of them standing together, connected by the shared warmth of the umbrella and the unspoken bond that lingered between them.
And for the first time in a long time, Yura didn’t feel so alone.
