6 knew it was going to be one
of those days when 9 dragged
him and 4 out
behind her house to look at the dark
clouds and dance in puddles
if the drops fell.
So there they stood in the humid air,
9’s light, cheerful laughter
contrasting the
darkness looming over them. He could
not help but join her; 4
simply smiled
alongside them as she shifted back
and forth on her feet, torn
by the feeling
of uncertainty in her heart and
emanation of
acceptance from
her friends. As they stared into the sky,
large droplets began to
fall on their arms
and faces and noses, and 9 could
contain herself no more.
She lept into
the air and moved, catching the liquid
diamonds and sifting them
through her fingers
as they fell to earth and formed puddles
beneath her feet, the grin
never leaving
the childlike expression gracing
Her face as she danced in
The falling rain.
6 watched as 4’s smile became more
genuine as she caught
the cloud drips on
her tongue, no longer concerned with
opinions of people
she had learned she
could trust, slowly letting go of her
fears, and he tilted his
head back and watched
the rain fall toward onto his face
and into his eyes, and
knew that in his
heart, he could never be happier
than he was with these friends
doing small things,
paying attention to moments that
others do not
respect and appreciate as much
as they should in their lives.
6 glances at 9
as she twirls inside and around the
puddles forming quickly
at her feet, and
she looks at him, deep into his eyes
as he stares back through hers.
Then she smiles,
one of her innocent heart-melting
beams – unforgettable.
He loves this most.
Erika Rowlee 