She Said She Liked the Rain

It was possible drops could come through and wet the carpet – perhaps even land on the bed near the cracked window. But, she couldn’t help it. She had to listen to it: the rain.

She looked out the tear-streaked pane, taking in the storm in its entirety. A sharp light illuminated her otherwise dark bedroom and with it followed a roar of thunder. The drops on her window shook on their downward path. It was then she decided looking from a few feet back would do.

She always enjoyed a thunderstorm – the way it made her feel small. She’d turn off the TV, shut her computer screen, and set aside the recent adventure her fingers were eagerly devouring. A night like this required all other sounds and thoughts still for a moment so she could take in the conversation that was tearing apart the sky.

Her bed always seemed to beckon her during storms like this, too. Its soft pillows and blankets offering shelter and warmth. She cleared its surface of today’s work clothes and dropped them to the floor before entering. She laid her head at the foot of the bed, for it gave her a better view of the drops as they landed and bounced off the hoods of the cars parked in a line right outside.

Another quick flash lit her room and she counted the seconds before the thunder followed suit. But, the lightning was not to be outdone and again it lit the sky before the first roar had run out of breath. Each wanted the last word.

In the street she noticed the small river was begin to rush. She was thankful she lived on a hill and thought about those who instead lived at the bottom. How they might have much more to worry about than a few drops on their windowsill and carpet.

After an unknown amount of time, the thunder’s responses moved farther and farther away. The sounds she heard then were mostly that of the trickling water coming from the rooftop down a pipe and the splash as a car backed-up and drove away – it’s owner no longer a prisoner to the indoors. But still, she flipped over her pillow and stayed where she was for a few moments longer. A storm like this don’t happen often. Besides, she thought she might be hearing more thunder coming this way.