Perpetual Rain ✓

That's Life

The afternoon had crept in and you could see the light in your room slowly start to fade out as the glow of the storm clouds began to die out with the setting sun that had remained obscured for the past few days. That hurricane on the coast was really taking a toll on your small town.

Sliding your book back onto the nightstand, you let out a breath. Remembering earlier, you had gone to the kitchen for a bite to eat but only ended up getting some tea. Having completely forgotten about the idea of food due to the sight of your mother crying, your body was growing angry from your lack of nourishment.

Rolling from your bed for the second time today you cautiously approached your bedroom door, pulling it open a crack to peek down the hall toward your parent's room. The door was open and the light inside off. You guessed your mom was out of her room now, maybe she had calmed down finally.

Stepping back into your room, you opted to get dressed first. You figured you could sit down with her for a brief talk before going out in search of something to eat, You didn't want to ask her to cook for you and needless to say your own culinary skills weren't the best.

You snagged a pair of acid washed jeans from your closest and a graphic t-shirt that had a cartoon character plastered along its front from a show you adored as a child. Cartoons just weren't what they used to be. You slipped it on over your head and tugged it down, letting it hang loosely at your hips as you jumped into your jeans. Next, you grabbed a thick black zip-up hoodie. There was nothing special about the jacket, aside from the fact that it kept you extremely warm in more nippy weather.

This time, you figured it would be best for once to bring an umbrella to keep yourself dry instead of relying solely on your clothes; you always ended up damp. You yanked your collapsible umbrella from your dresser drawer and stuffed it into the messenger bag that you slung across your body.

Heading for the door, you slipped into the hall with more confidence and switching on the hall light to better survey the area. Your mother was likely in the kitchen or living room, though you heard no homely sounds from where you stood. You started your search in the kitchen, stepping into the entryway to find the area bare. Huh, maybe she was watching some lifetime movie in the living room. You spun on your heels and moved just a bit more down the hall.

Once again, you were met with an empty room. Well, maybe she and Dad had gone out somewhere, figuring you were asleep still they likely didn't tell you. Oh well, if she's out of the house, you were sure she was fine. You could postpone your talk for another night.

You went back to the hall, flicking the light switch to turn the lights back off, just as they were before you had come out of your room and headed for the front door. Twisting the deadbolt, you pulled the old door open with a hard yank and were greeted by a blast of cold wind that rushed inside. Your eyes squinted to shield your hues from the unforgiving wind. 

Moving onto the porch you closed the door behind you and grabbed your keys to lock the door before jamming the ridged metal back into the pocket of your hoodie and quickly turning tail to head toward your car. Though just as you reached the start of the porch steps you noticed neither your parents' car, nor your own in the driveway.

You had driven Manny home last night, where was it now? Did your parents take it to get serviced? You figured that was something they would have told you at least, then again if it was your father's idea it was likely that he just decided not to due to the fact that you two weren't speaking.

Damn, looks like you'd be walking. At least you were lucky that your town was smaller in size and getting anywhere by foot didn't take more than 45 minutes. Still, the night had already set in and it was raining. That wasn't the best combination for a woman walking alone. But, a girl's gotta eat.

Pulling out your umbrella you held it out in front of you and pressed your thumb into the pump button on its hilt. It sprung to life with a whoosh and you pulled it up to hang over your head. The metal rod rested against your shoulder at a tilt to better keep it in place more comfortably. Your walk was going to be a lengthy one, since the restaurant you had in mind was a good thirty minutes away on foot at least.

You pulled out your headphones next and popped the buds into your ears. Scrolling through your phone you picked out your favorite piano track playlist and slipped the device into your pocket to protect it from the weather and just like that, you were off on your journey.

The streets were quiet as you wondered out of your neighborhood. It wasn't until you reached the edge of downtown did you start to see other people wandering about. They went about their lives, passing you by without a single thought, but you did the same.

Each face had a name, each person a story but no one really stopped to find those things out. A few faces you could recognize here and there - the benefits of living in a small town - or was it a downfall? Though you could pick out familiar faces, none of those you passed did you remember the name of. Just one of the millions of faces people would see in their lifetime then disappear from one's memory as if they had never met at all. Though, that was life.

Approaching a crosswalk, you stared blankly across the street at the pedestrian sign, waiting for it to flash with that little walking man. One by one cars passed by, driving more slowly due to the rain and swerving to avoid large potholes that had filled with water and created small ponds in the road that they didn't wish to swim in. Rain tapped rapidly at your clear umbrella before trickling off the side.

It was only a few blocks further. 'Otaru' well, 'Otaru Rakuten'. A literal hole in the wall restaurant that most people passed by due to its entrance being sandwiched in a small alley that barely got any light at night. Hell, even you had not realized the restaurant was there till a few weeks before graduation from middle school when your project buddy recommended the place. 

It was a family run Japanese restaurant, small in size. You had to be careful of the times you went because though it wasn't well known there were still enough people during certain hours to pack the place to its capacity, which was only about thirty people. But, it was after 7pm and not a weekend, so your chances were good.

The glowing man flashed on the signal screen finally, and you quickly jogged across the street, hopping over every puddle in your path till you safely made it to the other side with just seconds to spare before the sign changed to that glowing red hand.

You stepped straight into a little taste of Asia as the shops began to display more ethnic appeal. You enjoyed a bit of food that was out of your norm of hamburgers and spaghetti. You had loved the food since middle school when your class took a trip to Japan for five days, though in a way that was stereotypical as well.

The number of people around grew a bit, but the rain still thinned the herd. You weaved a bit, going out of your way to keep a distance from anyone, trying not to bump their umbrella with your own or accidentally stab someone in the eye with one of its protruding points.

After a bit of a game of 'avoid the other players' you finally stumbled upon that dreary alley way, seeing the faint glow of the restaurant in the dead center. Your feet now ached for sweet release, and you silently hoped they had a table free as you marched your way to its entrance to the beat of your growling stomach.