Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter sixteen: The Long Path Home

The week following Rae's confession passed in a haze of tentative steps forward and cautious silences. The tension between her and Henry had shifted into something softer, something more fragile, but not entirely unwelcome. She wasn't sure if she had truly let him in yet, but she could feel the edges of her walls starting to crumble.

It was strange, how natural it felt to fall into step with him. They didn't always speak when they were together; sometimes, they didn't need to. Instead, they shared quiet moments—walking to class, sitting under the oak tree at lunch, or just existing in the same space, the silence between them feeling less like a void and more like a shared understanding.

On Friday afternoon, Rae found herself walking home with Henry. The sky was overcast, the promise of rain thick in the air. She had always loved this kind of weather, the way the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the first drops to fall.

Henry walked beside her, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. His expression was thoughtful, his eyes occasionally flicking toward her as if he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how. Rae appreciated the effort he made to respect her pace, to give her the space she needed while still being present.

"Do you want to take the long way?" Henry asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Rae glanced at him, surprised by the suggestion. She knew what he meant—there was a path through the park that added a good twenty minutes to their walk. She hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Sure," she said softly.

The park was quiet, the only sounds coming from the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The path wound through clusters of trees, their branches arching overhead to form a canopy that blocked out most of the grey sky.

Rae pulled her hood up, her fingers brushing the fabric as she let out a soft sigh. She loved this kind of quiet, the way it gave her space to think, to process everything swirling in her mind.

Henry slowed his pace to match hers, his gaze flickering toward her again. "You've been quieter than usual," he said, his tone gentle.

Rae gave him a small shrug. "Just... thinking."

"About?"

She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to share the tangled mess of thoughts in her head. But Henry had been so patient with her, so willing to listen, that she found herself speaking without fully realizing it.

"About how things are changing," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "About how I'm changing."

Henry nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Change isn't always easy, but it's not always bad, either."

Rae looked down at the path, her boots scuffing against the gravel. "It's just... a lot. Letting people in, trusting them—it's not something I'm used to. And with you..." She trailed off, her chest tightening.

"With me, what?" Henry prompted gently.

Rae stopped walking, her heart pounding. The words were right there, but saying them felt like exposing a part of herself she wasn't sure she was ready to reveal. She looked up at him, her hazel eyes meeting his warm brown ones, and for a moment, she saw nothing but patience and understanding.

"With you, it feels different," she finally said, her voice shaky. "It feels like... I don't know. Like maybe it's okay to try."

Henry's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You don't have to have it all figured out, Rae. You're allowed to take your time. I'll still be here."

The sincerity in his voice sent a wave of warmth through her chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Rae felt a flicker of hope.

The first raindrop fell then, landing softly on her cheek. Rae glanced up at the sky, watching as more droplets began to fall, light at first but quickly gaining momentum. She let out a small laugh, the sound surprising even herself.

Henry raised an eyebrow. "What's funny?"

"Nothing," Rae said, pulling her hood tighter around her face. "I just love the rain."

Henry smiled, stepping closer to her. "Well, good thing we took the long way, then."

As the rain began to fall harder, Rae found herself laughing again, her worries momentarily forgotten. Henry joined in, his laughter mixing with hers as they hurried to find shelter under a nearby tree.

For a moment, the world felt lighter, the storm inside Rae quieting as the rain washed over them. And as she stood there, laughing with Henry under the branches, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face her fears alone.