My Stream of Consciousness - 1

Rain: A Short Story

I closed my eyes as gentle drops of water hit my skin and trickled down my face and arms. I let the rain flow through my recently-washed hair, glittering on each strand like a bead of light. The drops were not cold, nor warm, but the right temperature that made the water streaming down my body comforting.

Sitting in the rain had always been a favourite past time.

Staring up, I saw the moon shine through the clouds, reflecting light into my eyes and onto the raindrops falling from the pitch black sky above. The rain didn't torrent down; it was more like a drizzle, a gentle rainfall that allowed me to feel calm and collected for once in my busy life. 

The rain also brought memories, of my parents, my childhood friends, my first real relationship. My mother used to let me run around in the rain after dark and watch me from the lit patio, smiling. My friends used to splash me with puddles and then sit next to me was I looked up at the stars. And my girlfriend Maria used to sit on my patio by my side, leaning against me as rain drenched both of us.

I feel a quiver of sadness appear in my chest.

All of those people are gone now.

My parents, dead from the day I was stolen away at eight by the Titans, killed by one of the gang leaders.

My friends, left behind in Manhatten without knowing where I had gone.

Maria, lost and alone after I disappeared.

These thoughts brought tears to my eyes, and I was glad it was raining so nobody could see the tears trickling down my face. I had lost so much, and so had they. I knew I had meant so much to each one of them, and being taken so abruptly away to Canada's Toronto without telling a soul was an impact on them.

Memories fell like the raindrops, sending nostalgia through my heart.

 Teaching Maria to play pool for the first time.

Falling into the river with Michael.

Going out for lunch with only my mom on a mother-daughter day.

Trying bubble tea with Sean.

Getting a kitten.

It had been raining each one of those days.

I shut my eyes tightly. Those memories had been the best of my life.

Now, sitting in my house's backyard with my cat, who I had named Maria after my girlfriend, I had never felt so powerless and alone in my entire life.

 Not when the Titans came. 

Not when I had no home for weeks.

Not when I was mugged and raped at 16.

As the rain fell gently onto the grass, I sat there and thought about what might have been different if I had survived.

Bonus happy/angsty/sad/why are you reading this ending if you want:

As I stood there, facing the people I hadn't seen in years, I felt butterflies in my chest. Would they recognize me? Or would they think me a stranger and walk away?

But before I could move or speak, Maria was hugging me, crying and hiccuping uncontrollably. I hugged back tighter than I ever had before, my heart aching so badly it felt like I was going to pass out.

My friends came in too, clinging to me and Maria like there was no tomorrow. They had tears in their eyes, and I could feel sadness pricking at mine as well.

Suddenly a few drops of water hit my face, and I looked up to see raindrops falling down on top of us. The sky had grown dark, and rain was now trickling from the thick clouds.

Everybody looked up as a small rumble of thunder disturbed the silence, and they all laughed at how cheesy this was, with the rain and all.

Despite myself, I smiled, and I let my tears fall with the rain.