I had a burst of inspiration.....

Falling Droplets

I’m watching the rain fall; hitting the window in big splats, leaving spidery puddles. It always rains in movies when people are sad. I didn’t know it happened in real life, too.

My own tears are falling like the rain, splashing onto my hand resting on the window sill. So cliche, yet so fitting. Just as the rain gathers in the clouds, the salty tears gather in my eyes and spill out, trailing down my cheeks as the rain trails down the sky.

Who ever thought I’d be the girl sitting at her window, remembering the boy who caused her heart to break?

I didn’t, that’s for sure. It was raining when it happened, too. I remember as if it were yesterday and not three hundred and sixty-five yesterdays ago....

He was always late. Always. I think his watch must have been slow. But he was late to everything, not just our dates. But why couldn’t he be on time just this once?

I was getting antsy–he should have been there half an hour ago. My fingers were sweating. Why was he so late?

The phone ringing startled me, but I thought it might be him explaining. It usually was.

I leaped for it, pressing it to my ear and waiting to hear his voice.

“Hello?”

“Miss Lauren Kain?”

Sales call, no doubt. Dammit. “Yes, this is Lauren.”

“Are you acquainted with Alexander Lewis?”

Alex...My blood turned to ice in my veins. “Yes, I am.”

“Come to the hospital. Do you need a lift?”

I couldn’t even bring myself to answer, I just dropped the phone, grabbing my coat, my keys and running out the door. I could barely see through the rain, my windshield wipers weren’t helping much. Finally, I screeched into a parking space outside the hospital.

I barely noticed the freezing rain drenching me through and through, even when I stepped into the chilly hospital air. I must have been shivering, but I didn’t care. I raced through until I found the emergency room, getting ready to ask the receptionist where Alex was.

I had hardly reached the desk when I saw him, laying down, connected to countless tubes and wires.

“Oh g-d....”

“Miss Kain?” A nurse walked over, carrying a clipboard.

“Y-yes,” I mumbled, feeling my feet move toward the room. The coppery smell of blood reached my nostrils as the site invaded my vision. I covered my mouth, fearing I might gag. There was my Alex, lying there. He would never make it.

“What happened?” I whispered hoarsely.

“Car accident. He was speeding, said he was late. He hit the side of the road and his car flipped.”

He sped...to meet me...and became this?

“Did he say anything else?” I managed to ask.

“He said to call you. And he asked you to look in his jacket pocket.”

I looked at the nurse who nodded encouragingly at me, and went over to his tattered jacket, slipping my hand in the only pocket he ever used. I felt my fingers close around a velvet box and I felt my hands take it out of his pocket. I watched myself open the velvet box and I watched myself slip the ring onto my finger.

I felt my legs carry me to the trash can and then I was conscious again and vomiting.

I don’t remember what happened next...I don’t think I ever knew how I got back home.

Damn this rain. It’s been falling harder, splashing down more quickly than it had before, sliding down the window sometimes rather than splashing. My tears have been steady, though. Their pace hasn’t wavered and for that, I’m almost grateful.

Isn’t it funny how the mind works when it doesn’t want to think about something? Funny, and a little ironic.

My cheeks are starting to burn–how long have I been crying for? I need to do something.

The rain seems to want company, my eyes won’t stop crying. Maybe if I cry, the emptiness will leave and I’ll feel human again.

Something screeched. I swear it did. I tried to focus my eyes on something other than the rain and saw the blurry outline of a car in my driveway. Probably a friend coming to see if I’m ok. I don’t want to see anyone, so I draw the blinds closed and go into the kitchen, hoping they’ll think I’m not home.

I hear a knock on the door. Persistent, aren’t they?

I can hear the rain still. Even from the kitchen, the rain still reminds me of the rain on my face. It’s starting to thunder now, even lightning has begun to crackle. Whoever’s at the door should get in the car and go home safely.

Sitting at a new table, crying, I feel my cell phone vibrate. What did everyone want?

“Yes?” I ask, trying to compose myself.

“Lauren....”

My eyes widened. I knew that voice.

“Who is this?” I asked, knowing I was wrong.

“I’m at your door...”

I’m dreaming. I know I’m dreaming as the phone clatters to the floor in time to the thunder and my pounding footsteps match the pounding rain. My fingers close around the knob and suddenly, I can’t open the door. I can’t make my arm turn, I can’t make the knob twist.

Suddenly, I hear the rain lessening. The thunder rolls away. I don’t know how long I’ve been standing with my hand on the knob, but I don’t know how much longer I can.

I’m not sure when or how I finally turned the knob, but I did. The door opened.

“Will you marry me?”

Neither of us noticed the rain as it soaked into our skin, falling like the droplets of hope falling from both our eyes. I’m never letting this man go again.