Rain

She wandered through the streets, her hands in her pocket. I noticed she was the only one not carrying an umbrella nor was she running over to the nearest shelter. A group of girls ran past her, screeching about their hair getting wet. The girl smiled and shook out her long, thick (and now) wet locks.

I watched her with intense curiosity. She twirled around a lamppost, water droplets fleeing her body in the process. Was I the only one seeing this beauty? She looked like a goddess of rain, dancing with her lover. Her eyes were closed as she twirled around and around with a smile on her face.

"Anything else, dearie?" the elderly waitress smiled at me, placing the black folder that contained my receipt for the coffee I had previously ordered.

I smiled, "No, I'm good, thanks," I pulled out a fifty dollar bill and laid it on the table. "Keep the change," I said flashing a smile.

She was taken aback, just like I knew she would be. "Well, thank ya sir. You're most kind," she said smiling as she picked up the bill. "Please come back again," she replied before leaving.

I put on my coat and walked out of the little café, accidentally bumping into the girl. Okay, so it wasn't by a total accident.

"Oh, excuse me, "her melodic voice apologized. "I was enjoying the rain and not even bothering to watch where I was going."

Her voice was evens sweeter than I imagined. "No worries," I smiled. "What entrances you about the rain?"
"It...I don't know. It just does," she answered. "I love the way it feels…it feels liberating. Like I'm free from the world for this short time," she said her eyes lighting up as she explained.

"You know some would say that about the sun," I joked.

She laughed. Her laugh was filled with hope and joy. It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard in all my years of living. I vowed to make her laugh again. "Well, that is because they've never jumped in a puddle." She grabbed my hand. "Come with me."

She pulled me along and we ran through the streets, jumping in puddles and twirling around lampposts. Earlier, I had imagined we looked like a couple of crazed lunatics running through the streets of New York City, but soon I didn't care. She was right. The experience was liberating.

All of a sudden we stopped, both breathing heavily. "This is my apartment," I whispered moving closer to her. I stared in to her dark blue eyes. "Would you like to come up?" I asked my voice filled with hope.

She nodded.

I rolled over in my bed and was awakened by the rustling of paper. Sitting up, I took the paper and held it up.

John,

I can not stay unless there is rain. I'm sorry. I'll explain later. See you next rainstorm

Anne

I frowned, if I hadn't seen the note I would have wondered if I had dreamed the whole occurrence. Reluctantly, I got out of bed and went into work. I soon settled into the mundane schedule of my life, but Anne was never far from the sub-consciousness of my mind.

A week late, the heavens opened up and rain poured down. Meteorologists were claiming flash flooding and nobody was out, but me. I walked the streets looking at every face, hoping it was hers.

"Good evening, John," a melodic voice called out.

My heart flipped as I looked up. "Looks like a great day for puddle jumping," I said smiling.

She smiled as I walked over to her. Leaning down, I stared into her dark blue eyes. "I missed you."

"I missed you," she smiled. I captured her mouth, vowing not to let her go with the impending sun. "We don't have much time, the sun will be back tomorrow." She said interrupting the kiss.

I growled in impatience. "Well then, looks like we've got a lot to accomplish tonight. After all, you did say that you would explain everything, and I don't want the night to be filled just with talking."

She smiled, "Well, then lead the way." Soon, we were off running through the streets, back to my apartment. Jumping in puddles, twirling around lampposts along the way. I smiled. Rainstorms were easily becoming my weather of choice.