Rain.

Pluviophile.

Pluviophile.
A noun referring to a lover of rain, or someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

The grey clouds. They're the first to come, covering the sky. Warning us about what is coming next. There's a low rumble. Thunder? Maybe. I watch the clouds swallow bits of blue sky, enlarging and growing bigger.

I wait, tapping my shaking leg with my finger. Impatient, I'll admit.
But I was ready.

Whining dogs. They hustled into their kennels. Busy people. They left their cars for their houses in a hurry, urging their kids, their parents, and whoever else into the warmth and dryness of the house. Chittering birds. They flew off in a hurry, back to their nests.

I waited. But I was ready.

I waited.

And I waited.

Then, after a few moments of tense anticipation, I saw it. A big, fat raindrop plopped and burst right on the smudged windowpane next to my bed.

Then, I ran. Hat. Jacket. Boots. Warm pants. That's all I needed.

I ran outside.

The smell of fresh wetness filled my lungs, my eyes looking upwards at the light grey sky. The gentle force of the raindrops on my clothing made an irregular rhythm. I let loose a laugh I would never do in public. I danced. I splashed. I played.

I jumped, I ran, I
stayed.

The rain welcomed me. I took off my jacket. The cool drops soothed my warmed skin. I ran in circles.
I was having fun.

Too bad my mom wasn't so happy when she saw me, a ten year old, outside in the rain without a jacket.