Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Twelve: Friday afternoon

The days that followed their conversation in the park felt like a delicate balance—like standing on the edge of something, but not yet knowing what it would become. Rae's heart was heavy with emotions she couldn't fully articulate, and her mind was clouded with doubts that she couldn't shake. But there was also a warmth that she couldn't ignore, a quiet certainty in the way Henry had looked at her, like he truly meant every word he'd said. 

For the first time in what felt like forever, Rae allowed herself to feel something that wasn't fear. It was a quiet sort of hope, but it was there, hidden just beneath the surface, and she could no longer pretend she didn't notice it. 

She had always been good at pushing people away, keeping herself at a safe distance. But now, with Henry's steady presence in her life, she felt the walls she'd built around herself begin to crack. 

It was subtle at first—a glance across the room that held a little more meaning, a casual touch on the shoulder that lingered just a second too long—but it was enough to make Rae's heart race. 

They still weren't speaking in grand, sweeping declarations. They didn't need to. Their connection, fragile as it was, seemed to exist in the small, quiet moments—the way Henry would meet her gaze in the hallway, the way they would share a moment of understanding in class, the way their conversations would stretch long into the evening over text messages. 

But there were times, like now, when Rae felt like she was standing at the edge of something larger than herself, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to leap. 

It was Friday afternoon, and the school day was nearly over. Rae had found herself, once again, standing by the window in the back of the classroom, staring out at the grey clouds rolling in from the horizon. The rain had stopped, but the chill of the air still hung in the room, seeping into her skin. 

Her fingers were drumming lightly against the wooden surface of her desk when she heard the faint shuffle of footsteps behind her. 

"Rae?" 

She turned to find Henry standing there, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. His dark brown eyes met hers, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 

"Hey," she said softly, unable to keep the slight smile from forming on her own lips. 

"Got a minute?" Henry asked, stepping closer. 

Rae nodded, pushing herself away from the desk and following him out of the classroom. The hallways were mostly empty now, the quietness adding to the heaviness in the air. She followed him down the corridor, her heart thumping in her chest as she tried to decipher the reason behind his sudden request. 

They reached the back exit of the school, where the dim light from the setting sun filtered through the trees outside, casting long shadows across the grass. Henry leaned against the stone wall, his gaze on the horizon. 

"I wanted to talk to you," he said after a moment, his voice unusually serious. 

Rae's stomach twisted with unease. "About what?" 

Henry glanced over at her, his eyes unreadable for a moment. "About us. About what this is." 

Rae swallowed, unsure of where this conversation was going. "We don't need to label anything, Henry." 

"I know," he said quickly, his voice softening. "I'm not trying to pressure you. But I just... I don't want you to feel like you're in this alone. I don't want you to think I'm just going to disappear the moment things get complicated." 

Rae felt a lump form in her throat. "I never thought you'd disappear." 

Henry gave a small, bittersweet smile. "You don't have to say that just to make me feel better." 

Rae hesitated, her heart racing. "I just don't know how to do this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to let someone in without pushing them away. I don't know how to be the person you think I am." 

Henry took a step closer, his eyes soft with understanding. "You don't have to be anyone other than who you are. I see you, Rae. I see all of you. The quiet, the hesitant, the guarded parts. And that's enough for me." 

Rae felt a tear slip down her cheek before she could stop it, her breath shaky. "I'm not perfect. I've never been perfect." 

"I don't want perfect," Henry said gently. "I just want you. The real you." 

Her heart twisted in her chest, and she took a shaky breath. "But what if the real me is too much? What if it's too broken?" 

Henry's hand reached out, and for a moment, Rae stiffened, but then she felt his fingers gently brush her cheek, wiping away the tear. 

"It's not too much," he said softly. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere." 

The warmth of his hand against her skin was enough to undo all the barriers Rae had so carefully built around herself. The vulnerability she had always feared seemed a little less terrifying in that moment, because Henry's words were a promise, and his presence was a quiet reassurance. 

For the first time in a long time, Rae let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—she didn't have to be perfect. That maybe, she could let someone else see her, flaws and all, and it would still be enough. 

"I don't know if I'm ready to let go of everything," she whispered, her voice trembling. 

Henry didn't reply immediately. He didn't need to. He simply took her hand in his, his fingers warm and steady. And that simple act—of holding her hand—spoke volumes. 

Rae didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, with Henry beside her, she felt like maybe, for the first time, it was okay to just take things one step at a time. 

And with him, maybe, just maybe, she would learn how to let go.