Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Seventeen: In the Stillness of Change

The rain continued through the weekend, a steady rhythm against Rae's window. She sat curled up on her bed, her knees drawn to her chest as she watched the droplets race each other down the glass. The room was dim, lit only by the grey light filtering through the overcast sky, and the faint hum of music played softly in the background.

Her mind drifted back to the walk through the park with Henry. His words had stayed with her, lingering in her thoughts like a melody she couldn't quite shake. "You're allowed to take your time. I'll still be here."

It scared her how much those words meant. They were an anchor in the storm of doubt she constantly waded through, a reminder that maybe she didn't have to do this all on her own. But even with that reassurance, she couldn't ignore the fear that clung to her.

She wanted to trust him, to believe that he wouldn't hurt her, but years of keeping herself guarded weren't easy to undo. Letting someone in was like handing them a piece of herself, and the thought of what they might do with it was enough to make her chest tighten.

A knock on her bedroom door startled her out of her thoughts.

"Rachel?" Her mum's voice came through, soft but inquisitive.

"Yeah?" Rae called back, not moving from her spot by the window.

Her mum poked her head in, a warm smile on her face. "I just wanted to check on you. You've been up here most of the day."

"I'm fine," Rae replied, though she wasn't sure if she entirely believed it.

Her mum stepped into the room, leaning against the doorframe. "You sure? You seem... quieter than usual."

Rae gave a small shrug. "Just thinking."

Her mum studied her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But you know, you can always talk to me if you need to. About anything."

"I know," Rae said, her voice softer now.

With a final smile, her mum left, closing the door behind her. Rae let out a slow breath, her gaze drifting back to the window.

On Monday morning, the rain had eased into a drizzle, the kind that clung to the air and soaked everything slowly. Rae walked into school with her hood pulled up, the dampness seeping into her shoes as she made her way across the courtyard.

She spotted Henry by the lockers, talking to one of his friends. He hadn't noticed her yet, and for a moment, Rae considered slipping past him unnoticed. But something stopped her—a small, fragile part of her that didn't want to keep hiding.

"Hey," she said as she approached, her voice quieter than she intended.

Henry turned at the sound, his expression softening when he saw her. "Hey."

There was a moment of silence, the noise of the hallway fading into the background as their eyes met. Rae shifted her weight, unsure of what to say.

"Do you want to meet up later?" she asked, her voice hesitant. "Maybe after school?"

Henry's eyebrows lifted slightly, surprise flickering across his face before it was replaced by a warm smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Rae nodded, her heart racing. "Okay. I'll, um, meet you by the gate."

As she walked away, she could feel his gaze on her, a quiet reassurance that made her chest feel a little lighter. It wasn't much, but it was a step—a small, shaky step toward something that scared her and excited her all at once.

The day passed in a blur of classes and quiet moments. By the time the final bell rang, Rae found herself standing by the school gate, the drizzle still hanging in the air. She spotted Henry approaching, his dark hair slightly damp from the mist.

"You made it," he said with a smile, his tone teasing but kind.

"Of course," Rae replied, her own lips quirking into a small smile.

They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps mingling with the soft patter of rain. Rae's hands were tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, her thoughts swirling as she tried to find the courage to speak.

"I've been thinking," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Henry glanced at her, his expression patient. "About what?"

Rae hesitated, her fingers curling into fists in her pockets. "About... us. About this." She gestured vaguely between them, her cheeks flushing. "I don't know if I'm doing this right. If I'm... enough."

Henry stopped walking, turning to face her fully. His eyes searched hers, and Rae felt her breath catch under his steady gaze.

"Rae," he said softly, "you don't have to be anything other than who you are. That's enough for me."

The sincerity in his voice made her chest ache, and for a moment, she couldn't find the words to respond. She looked down at the ground, the dampness of the pavement reflecting the soft glow of the streetlights.

"I'm trying," she said finally, her voice trembling. "I just... I don't want to mess this up."

Henry reached out, his hand brushing hers before he gently laced their fingers together. The warmth of his touch sent a wave of reassurance through her, grounding her in the moment.

"You're not going to mess this up," he said firmly. "We'll figure it out together, okay?"

Rae looked up at him, her heart pounding. There was a quiet strength in his words, a promise that she wasn't alone in this.

"Okay," she whispered, a small, tentative smile breaking through.

They continued walking, hand in hand, the rain falling softly around them. And for the first time in a long time, Rae felt a flicker of peace—a sense that maybe, just maybe, she could let herself believe in the possibility of something good.