A Brush of Blue

Chapter 5: After the Rain

The day after her boat trip with Naomi, Selah woke to the soft patter of rain against her window. The sound was gentle, a rhythmic drumming that filled the room with a quiet serenity. Unlike the heavy storms that stirred anxiety, this steady drizzle encouraged stillness, inviting her to linger in bed, cocooned in blankets and the softness of her thoughts.

She lay still for a while, staring at the ceiling, her mind drifting back to the previous day. The boat ride with Naomi had been unexpectedly peaceful, offering her a glimpse of something she hadn't felt in a long time—freedom from the relentless grip of grief. The sea had stretched out endlessly, and for a few moments, Selah had felt a sense of release, as though the ocean had carried away some of the weight pressing on her chest.

Now, back in the quiet of her cottage, the familiar heaviness began to creep in again. It wasn't as suffocating as before, but it lingered—a dull ache in her chest, reminding her that grief, no matter how distant it sometimes felt, was always there. Selah sighed, rubbing her eyes before sitting up in bed. The window framed a misty view of the beach, the horizon blurred by the rain. The ocean, vibrant and alive the day before, now looked muted and gray, blending almost seamlessly with the sky. It reflected how she felt inside—somewhere between sadness and hope, caught in the space between healing and hurt.

She pulled herself out of bed, her bare feet touching the cool wooden floor, and shuffled toward the kitchen. She moved through her morning routine on autopilot—boiling water for coffee, reaching for the worn mug she used every day, feeling the weight of the loneliness that had become so familiar it almost felt like company.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the small kitchen, but even that, once a comforting ritual, couldn't lift her spirits. As she poured her coffee, her phone buzzed on the counter, its sudden vibration breaking the stillness of the morning. Selah glanced at the screen and saw Naomi's name, a soft flutter rising in her chest. She hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone.

Naomi's message was simple, warm: 

*Hey! How's it going? Rainy day, huh? Perfect excuse to be lazy. Want to hang out later? I'm not working today, so I figured we could chill. Maybe grab lunch or something?*

Selah stared at the message, her mind torn. She wasn't sure if she was ready for more time with Naomi. Yesterday had been... different. Good, but different. She'd felt a lightness with Naomi, an ease that had been absent from her life for so long. And yet, the idea of letting herself get close to someone again stirred up all kinds of fears. She'd been guarding herself so carefully, afraid of opening up only to face more loss, more pain. But there was a small, quiet part of her that wanted to say yes.

Before she could overthink it, Selah typed out a response: 

*Yeah, sounds good. I could use a break from the house. Where do you want to meet?*

Naomi's reply came almost immediately: 

*Awesome! How about The Blue Haven Café in about an hour? We can grab something warm to drink and just hang out. I'll meet you there :) *

Selah set the phone down, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nerves. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to feel anything other than grief, and the unfamiliar sensation was both thrilling and terrifying. But Naomi had a way of making things feel simple, like there was no pressure, no expectation—just an invitation to share a moment.

***

An hour later, Selah found herself walking through the rain-soaked streets of Blue Haven, her hood pulled up against the drizzle. The town felt softer in the rain, quieter, as though it too had taken a deep breath and settled into the gentle rhythm of the day. The pastel-colored houses, normally vibrant under the sun, seemed muted now, their colors blending with the gray of the sky. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of wet earth and saltwater.