The next morning felt like a dream wrapped in a soft gray blanket. The sky was overcast, thick clouds casting shadows over everything, and a cool breeze carried the scent of rain through the air. I stood by my window for a while, just taking it all in. There was something magical about mornings like this—peaceful, a little mysterious, and full of quiet promise.
I couldn't hold in my excitement. "I love this weather!" I screamed out loud, laughing at my own dramatic flair. The echo of my voice filled the stillness of the room, and I felt a small thrill run through me. Cloudy mornings always made me feel alive, like something unexpected was about to happen.
As I got ready for my computer class, the sky finally gave in and released a soft drizzle that quickly turned into steady rain. I paused at the door, watching the drops hit the pavement in rhythmic patterns. Despite the inconvenience, I smiled. Rainy days were my favorite.
By the time I reached the center, the rain was coming down harder, soaking the streets and turning everything a muted shade of gray. I stepped inside the building, shaking off droplets from my jacket, and immediately started scanning the room. I was looking for him.
But he wasn't there.
Disappointment weighed on me like a damp coat. I tried to tell myself it was nothing, that maybe he was just running late, but a small part of me worried. He never missed class.
I found a seat near the window, trying to focus on the lesson. The rain tapped gently against the glass as the instructor spoke, but I barely heard a word. My eyes kept drifting to the door.
And then it happened.
The door creaked open, and he walked in.
My heart skipped a beat.
He looked flustered, slightly out of breath, his hair damp and clinging to his forehead. His clothes weren't drenched, but they were wet enough to show he'd been caught in the worst of the rain. Still, he smiled when he caught my gaze, and that one look made the whole morning worth it.
He slid into the seat beside me, offering a soft "Hey," like nothing had happened. We both attended the class, barely speaking, but the quiet presence of him next to me warmed me more than any sunshine could have.
When class ended, the rain still hadn't stopped. If anything, it had gotten heavier, now coming down in sheets that blurred the world outside. I stood at the doorway, staring out at the downpour and feeling a growing sense of dread. I had lent my umbrella to a friend the day before—her house was much farther than mine, and I hadn't thought twice about helping her out. But now I was stranded without one.
He noticed right away.
Without a word, he pulled out an umbrella—one of those large black ones that could easily shield two people—and handed it to me. His hand brushed mine briefly, and I felt a spark that sent goosebumps up my arms.
"Take it," he said softly. "I don't mind the rain."
I was touched. "Are you sure?"
He nodded with a gentle smile. I stepped outside, grateful and slightly embarrassed, but mostly just warm from the kind gesture.
And then—it happened.
Just as I opened the umbrella and turned to thank him again, a loud crack split the sky. A bolt of lightning streaked down, striking something nearby with a deafening BOOM. The ground trembled beneath us. People screamed. For a moment, it felt like the world had cracked open.
My heart raced. I turned to him, eyes wide in shock.
And there he was—frozen, staring past me, pale as a ghost.
Something had happened. Something big. Something none of us expected.
What I saw next made my heart drop and the world spin.
He wasn't looking at me.
And whatever it was... it changed everything.