Broken

Rain

Phil

The evening was damp, the air thick with the sweet earthy scent of rain. The sky was a muddy grey with charcoal clouds twisting closer in a threatening way. Car tires peeled at the wet cement as they drove past and the entire street had the feeling of dripping.

I smiled. I love the rain. The smell. The feeling of it tapping my skin. The way I could feel the freshness in the air when I took a breath. The smooth blur it seemed to cast on the world. It was a pleasing feeling I had always reveled in.

But Dan and I couldn't stop to feel the raindrops- no, we were in a hurry.

We walked quickly through the crowd as sparse raindrops began scattering around the city. Dan was a few paces in front of me, walking rather fast. I had to take a few double steps to catch up. We each had shopping bags in our hands from our holiday shopping. My hands were getting tired of holding the thin plastic handles.
We were far from the flat- practically on the other side of town- and were trying to get to a popular gaming store before they closed. Today was the last day of their Black Friday sales and we wanted to jump on the good deals. Apparently Black Friday happens every year in the US and is a very crazy big deal.
We hoped some good games would be left.

I spotted the familiar glow of the neon store sign.
      "Oh thank god." I heard Dan breathe out as he ducked into the store at last. I followed, a bit confused.
He always seemed tense when there was rain warnings. Maybe he didn't like the rain. I had never asked him and I had to admit- I had very few memories of Dan in the rain.
Looking around the game store, I forgot my questions about Dan as we separated and I searched for Tokaido. I wanted to buy a set of it for Adrian.
The shelves were nearly bare, all the sale tags strewn about the floor. It was a mess. I glanced outside at the darkening street.
     "Quite the storm coming." I heard someone say, "should be any minute now."
      "Yeah- biggest of the year is it?" A woman replied.
I suddenly spotted Tokaido. It was on the floor. It looked like it had been kicked around a bit, as it was half way beneath a display. I bent down and picked it up as a familiar voice met my ears.
     "Call a cab- I want to get home." Dan demanded.
I stood up and turned to face him. His brown eyes flicked nervously between my blue ones. He seemed unusually pale.

      "Are you unwell?" I wondered, noting the rapid pulsing of his neck. His heart was beating like crazy.
He shook his head, his dark fringe flopping softly.
I gave him a confused look. He had been acting strange ever since we left the flat today.
      "Okay- well, did you find telestrations?" I asked, knowing that was the main game he had been hoping to find.
Again, Dan shook his head. He seemed fidgety. He was tapping his heel. He had his sleeves pulled past his palms, I could hardly see his hands holding the handles of the bags.
      "I'll help you look. Then we'll buy the games and go- okay?" I said, trying to calm him down.

Dan was taking deep breaths, as if trying to compose himself. But he nodded in agreement. I wondered why he suddenly didn't want to talk. He followed me closely as we walked around the small store. Rain began thrumming the store windows, calming me.

I finally located telestrations and went up and paid. I smiled at the young woman working the front counter before walking away.

I stepped out into the rain and took a deep breath, filling my lungs with my favorite feeling. I turned around to see if Dan was following- but he wasn't. He was standing on the other side of the glass door with his phone pressed to his ear. He must be calling a cab.

I sighed, trying to pinpoint why Dan was acting so strangely.

We had left the flat earlier today, when the winds were picking up. He ran back inside to get a jumper. Then we went for coffee, he seemed smiley enough then, talking and laughing. We took some pictures with the barista- who had been a huge fan. Then we went to the mall to get clothes and accessories as Christmas gifts. Nothing off about Dan then.

It was just when we had been walking to the game store that he seemed do decline. Or at least that was when I had noticed. I suppose I remember he seemed a bit off in the lounge this morning, but I had shrugged it off. Maybe he really does dislike the rain.

I stepped back into the store next to Dan.

      "That's not possible!" Dan said angrily into his phone. I jumped at his voice. He seemed furious.
"You can't be out of cabs!" He was almost growling at the person on the other end.
Why was he so desperate for a cab?