It seemed like the rain would fall forever. Shimmering sheets of silver danced fleetingly with the street light, then turned abruptly with the wind to disappear into the blackness of the night sky. Racing clouds, high overhead, revealed by the city's powerful glow, rumbled threateningly. Car headlights struggled to pierce the moist gloom as they made their way through the congested downtown streets. And in everyone's ears, the gentle hiss of rain falling on the sidewalk, urging their thoughts to drift as they waited idly to cross the street.
On and on, the rain fell.
Priss rested her elbows on the tenth-story balcony rail and stared out across the city, her thoughts already captured by the sound of the falling rain. Gently twisting and turning, over and over in her mind, but never reaching any real conclusion. What had happened, and what should never have happened. The feel of his hands on her skin... so warm, unexpectedly smooth, endlessly searching. The whisper in her ear, the heat of his breath on her shoulder. Their bodies taking over, their rational thoughts struck down by their desire. But never did her heart soar.
The wind suddenly turned, and a soft mist brushed against her face like the voice of a ghost.
'But I love you, and you love me... Priss, I don't understand.'
Priss smiled to herself as she licked at the cool rain on her lips. He didn't understand. They never understand.
'Priss, we were meant to be together...'
Priss sighed. There were just too many people who were alone in the world to buy that. So many people, with broken hearts. And so many people willing to break them over and over.
'Priss, don't you love me?'
The wind shifted again, this time sending a stinging wave of rain across the balcony. Priss closed her eyes, and let the rain wash over her, while the angry wind filled her ears. Then suddenly, silence.
'Well, I hope we can still be friends...'
Friends. She had friends. Real friends. And with three friends that she felt she could actually trust, she thought she was more fortunate than she should be. No, more friends she didn't need. What she needed was-
"Priss... come back to bed."
Leon's hand on her arm startled her. She struggled within herself to smile and not pull her arm away too quickly. "Um, that's okay, I'm kinda enjoying just sitting here..." She hesitated, considering the coldness of her words. "But you're welcome to join me if you like."
Leon looked at Priss for a long moment, as if searching for a hidden meaning behind her words. He turned his eyes to follow Priss' blank stare out into the rain. Nothing but falling water. What was she looking at? Strange, he thought to himself... It was supposed to be different. Sure, the sex was pretty good, but he thought maybe... hmmm, he thought maybe he'd be able to reach her. Get through that wall she hides behind. He wondered if she *was* hiding. Maybe... maybe she's actually *waiting* for him to say something. But what?
"Leon," Priss' voice snapped him out of his wandering thoughts. "Have you ever been in love?"
Leon stared hard into Priss' eyes, her gaze meeting his with an equal intensity. Her brown eyes reflected back the dim light from the street below, catching him off-guard. Suddenly he could hear the rain very clearly.
He thought for a long while before answering. An unfamiliar sadness and understanding in his voice as he finally spoke. "No Priss, I guess not."
"Mmmm."
Leon looked back out into the rain, his thoughts slowly drifting away, as he pondered the future.
"But," he abruptly replied, "I'd like to be someday."
Priss smiled, but did not look at him.
"Me too Leon."
The rain continued to fall, drop after drop after drop. Each one headed for the same demise.
The hiss was suddenly deafening.
"Someday eh?" Leon offered idly, the unfamiliar sadness washing over him like the rain.
Priss looked down at her hands. A single drop of water had collected at the tip of one of her fingers. She watched the drop sway as it grew heavier and heavier, until finally it fell. She smiled again, as the hiss faded back into the night.
"Yeah. Someday."
END
BACK to the Writing Home Page