The rain fell in heavy sheets, drumming against the pavement and soaking everything in its path. Emma cursed softly under her breath as her umbrella threatened to collapse for the third time that morning. Her bag slipped from her shoulder, scattering papers into the puddles at her feet.
"Of course. Perfect start to a Monday," she muttered, hunching over to retrieve the soaked documents. The city around her seemed alive with the chaotic rhythm of taxis, honking cars, and hurried pedestrians.
She barely noticed the tall figure approaching until she literally bumped into him. Coffee splashed across her hands, leaving a warm, sticky trail, and her heart jumped into her throat.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, flustered, holding up her hands.
He smiled—a gentle, understanding smile that made her cheeks burn. "It's okay. Are you all right?"
Emma blinked at him, heart hammering. There was something in his eyes, a calmness that contrasted with the storm surrounding them. "Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
He offered her a hand to steady herself, brushing some rain from her sleeve. The contact was brief but left a strange warmth spreading from her fingers to her chest.
"I guess umbrellas don't always work in storms like this," he said with a soft laugh.
Emma smiled, a small, shy curve of her lips. "Apparently not."
They crouched together to gather the papers she had dropped. She noticed how his jacket was damp but neat, how he moved with care, and how natural it felt to be near him despite having just met.
A car splashed a wave of water nearby, and Emma jumped back instinctively. He held out a hand. "Here, careful," he said, guiding her to the sidewalk.
Her pulse raced. She didn't know his name, yet there was a magnetism she couldn't explain. It wasn't just his appearance—it was the quiet confidence, the attentiveness, the way he seemed to notice every small detail.
They parted at the corner of the street. Emma walked away, her umbrella barely shielding her from the rain, but she found herself glancing back repeatedly, hoping to catch a final glimpse of him.
For the rest of the day, his presence lingered in her mind. The sound of the rain, the warmth of his hand, the calmness in his gaze—it all replayed like a movie she couldn't stop watching. She didn't know his name, but she knew one thing: this was no ordinary encounter.