Rain in Summer

COPYRIGHT � 2011 by Jerykah Palma (hakyrej_inyourdreams)

All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or usage of this work in whole or in part in any form by any
electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereinafter invented, including
xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, is forbidden without the permission from the author.

All the characters in this story have no existence whatsoever outside the
imagination of the writer, and have no relation to anyone having the same name or
names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual, known or unknown to
the author, and all the incidents are merely invention.

- - -

One quiet day in May, in the serenity of the park, while the leaves of the trees
are silently falling, I and Rae are there, too. Laughing together, having fun. We
are talking about various topics... Anything under the blazing sun.

We are having fun talking, but suddenly, it started to rain.

"Why would it rain in summer?" I asked myself.

Rae answered me. "Well, we can't predict anything, Vince. This kind of situation
also refers to people in our lives. We don't know what will they do. They might
come, they might go. We'll never know."

I never thought Rae is like this. In the past few weeks of being together, she is
such a joker. She's funny and witty, you'll never have a dull moment with her. This
is the first time that she looked serious. Even a while ago when we're talking, she
seemed so jolly.

"Hey." Rae interrupted my thoughts. "What were you thinking? You seem so quiet."
She added.

"Nothing. You just seem so serious in what you said." I told her.

"Oh? Don't think about it that much! It might bring you headache!" Rae said, her
voice speaks of jolliness again.

"Oh, sure thing." I answered her.

And the two of us started to go and play in the open space, unmindful of the
falling rain.
- - -
I, Vincent Lorenzo Herman, vowed to love Marie Claire Maniego with all my life.

But she did not vow back. Instead, she left me.

First Rain
- - -

"Hey yo, cuz." My cousin, Fraederick, tapped me in my shoulder.

"Yo." I answered back.

"Why don't you roam around? There are many girls to play with here. Ready to
explode, buddy." Fraederick said and laughed.

I laughed with his joke. "Maybe later, buddy. Still having fun with the presence of
tequila." I answered him.

"Don't fool me, buddy. Eyeing someone?" Fraederick asked me. Oh sh1t, this guy
really knows me. Well, why wouldn't he? Man, he's the closest cousin to me.

"Move your a$s, Frae. Go with your girls. Don't interrupt me." I told him,
indirectly answering his question.

"Whoa! Chill, man, chill! I will go ahead now. Just tell me how far you've gone
later, orayt?" Fraederick said and left me. God, his mind is really malicious.

Well, in case it's not yet obvious where am I, I'm in a bar that my father's
brother owns. In short, Fraederick's father owns this bar.

Good thing it's mid-April, and that means it's vacation. I can do anything I want.
- - -

It has been a few minutes and I'm still in the bar counter, silently staring at
that girl. The woman possesses a beauty that takes my breath away. She wasn't a
stunning beauty that I usually prefer in women... But a beauty nonetheless. She
looks shy. Young and fresh like a flower not yet in bloom.

"Vince!" Somebody called me. When I looked, it was Stephen, my high school pal. Oh
yeah, by the way, I'll be graduating college next semester. At long last... LOLjk!
Man, I'm just nineteen going twenty.

"Stevie! How have you been?" I asked him.

"Fine. How 'bout you?"

"Same with you. Alone?"

"Nah. I'm with someone." Stevie said and smiled.

"Really? Who?" I asked him and he pointed a familiar person. It's that girl!

"Y---Your gi---girl?" I stammered while asking him.

"My girl? Of course not! She's my sister's friend." Stephen answered. Oh hell, what
a relief.

"Oh, I thought she's your girl." I said.

And hey, was the relief in my voice very obvious? Because Stephen said, "Why? You
like her?" He teased me.

"Uhh... A bit." I replied shyly.

"She's 17. I'll introduce you to her." Stephen told me.

My eyes widened. "Really?!" I said. Heck! Is this real?!

"Yeah. I think you really like her." He commented.

"Why'd you say so?"

"Well, you don't usually let the grass grow on your feet before you approach a
girl."

"Shut up, man." I said and laughed.

"Let's go!" He said and led the way towards the girl.
- - -

"Rae!" Stephen called the girl. So her name's Rae, huh? Kinda boyish.

"Oh, Kuya Steve. What's the matter?" She asked and looked to Stephen, then to me.

She's a lot more beautiful in a closer look. She had fiery eyes, contrast to her
shy look. And curly shoulder-length copper hair. I'm not sure if it was dyed or
natural.

"I want to introduce my high school friend to you. Rae, this is Vince. Vincent
Lorenzo Herman. Vince, this is Rae. Marie Claire Maniego."

"Hi Rae." I told her and nervously offered my hand.

At the first minute, she just stared ar me. She looks like a snub, oh hell. But
then, I was surprised when she smiled and accepted my hand.

"Hi Vince." She said and smiled.

Suddenly, Stephen's phone rang. After a minute of talking, he said goodbye.

"People, I need to go and meet somebody. I'm really sorry, this is just an
emergency. Oh Rae, Vince, I hope you two can get along well." He said.

When Stephen passed my way, he whispered to me. "I'm leaving it all to you, Vince."
He said and winked at me.

What the heck?!

That fvckin' Stephen left me here all along with Rae!

Second Rain
- - -

"So, what do you want?" Rae asked me. I bet, she just said that to break the
unbearable silence between us.

"Uhh, I just wanna be your fr---friend. Yeah, friend." Oh-kay. I stammered in the
friend part. Maybe because I wanna be more than friends?

"Of course we can be friends!" Rae exclaimed.

After Rae said that, we talked for a while.

- - -

Our little chitchat might have last longer if the time slowed down a little.

"Oh, Vince! I really lost track of the time. I'm really grateful and happy to be
your friend. By the way, what's your cellphone number? Y'know, so I can contact
you." She said. Holy sh1t, she's asking for my cellphone number!!! AS A FRIEND.
"Here's my number." I said after I passed her a little piece of tissue where I
wrote my number.

"What's yours?" I asked her after I saw her keep the little piece of tissue in her
pocket.

"I'll send you a beep later! I really have to go home. It's nearing 1 am." She said
and dashed to the door like a flash of lightning.

"Weird." I told myself. Well, if you're the party guy type of person, you know that
this is just the time that the party gets real exciting.

"Where's the lady?" Fraederick suddenly came and asked me.

"Gone with the wind." I answered and marched to the bar's door, as if tracing Rae's
footsteps.
- - -

When I got home, I immediately checked my cellphone. Expecting a missed call or

even a message from an unknown number but there's nothing.

I waited the whole night or technically, the whole day... But none came.

At around 8 am, I finally decided to eat breakfast first with my family before
sleeping.
- - -

I went downstairs to eat my breakfast. When Mom saw me, her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh! Vince, is that really you?! Is it really 8 am and you're awake?!" Mom
exaggeratedly said.

"You're over acting, Mom." I told her while I was getting my seat.

"Honey, it's just two things. It's either he REALLY woke up early..." Oh yeah. My
Dad really emphasized the word really.

"Or he haven't slept a wink yet." He added.

"Well, it's the latter actually." I casually answered.

"But why? What time did you got home?" Mom asked me.

"I got home probably by 1 or 1:30 am."

"So I guess you're waiting for something..?" Dad teased me.

"Or someone..?" Mom added.

"C'mon, people. Gimme a break." I said, finished my meal and went upstairs to sleep
the whole day out.
- - -

I woke up at 4 am. Cool, right? I know. I really slept the whole day.

I checked my cellphone. Oh Dude, there are 37 messages. Two are from Fraederick,
still asking me where the lady is. Five from different people greeting good
morning/good afternoon/good evening.
And the 30 left from an unknown number that says one thing.
Quote
From: 0921*******
Hey, it's me, Rae. Sorry 4 not txting u lst night. I rili got fed up w/ d sermon my
parents gave me.

Oh yeah!

With the overwhelming happiness I felt, I went downstairs and raid our kitchen
stuffs.

Third Rain
- - -

By 7 am, I was already done cooking. Haha, I know what you're thinking. I really
spent 3 hours in cooking. Well, I did my research in the internet around 5 am
because I finally gave up trying to cook scrambled eggs. I've already used 10 eggs
and I'm just making a sh1t.
- - -

I went upstairs to take a quick shower.

After 10 minutes, I'm already done. I went to the master's bedroom to tell my
parents that I've cooked. Again, they were so shock but I didn't mind them. I went
back to the kitchen and I was very surprised on whom I saw...

... Stephen and Rae.

- - -

"Hey Vince!" Stephen said and gave me a high five.

"Man." I said and smiled. "What are you two doing here?" I asked them.

"Well, Rae forced me to go here. She said that you might be angry at her because
she texted you later than she should." Stephen said.

"Hey, I'm not mad or something at you, Rae. What gave you that idea?" I told her
and gave her a gentle smile.

"You did not reply." Rae answered and shook her head.

"Oh, c'mon. I slept the whole day last night. I read your message at around 4 am
and I didn't reply because you still might be sleeping."

"Ah... But why did you slept the whole day?" She asked, puzzled.

"Uhh... I slept late." I answered and smiled to hide my nervousness.

"Why did you slept late?" Stephen then asked me.

Oh, hell. Should I tell them the real reason? ARGH. OF COURSE!... NOT.

"Ah, I was enjoying playing my Wii and I forgot about the time." I answered.

"Good morning, people!" Mom suddenly entered at the kitchen.

"Are they your friends, Vince?" Dad asked me.

"Yeah. This is Stephen and this is Rae." I introduced.

"Good morning, Mrs. Herman, Mr. Herman." Rae politely said.

"Good morning, Sir, Ma'am." Stephen said.

"Just call me Aunt Trina and call him Uncle Vicente! C'mon, let's proceed to the
dining room." Mom said.

We all took our seats and ate the hearty meal that I cooked.
- - -

"Is this what you cooked, Vince?" Mom asked.

"Uhh... Yeah." I shyly answered Mom. Hell, it's just scrambled eggs, for Pete's
sake! It's embarassing to Rae.

"It's great. The salt's not too much and everything's perfect." Rae suddenly said.

WHADDAHECK?! Did she really said it's great?!

"Vincent! Your saliva's falling!" Dad joked me and they all laughed.

ARGH! It's really embarassing to Rae!!!

"Stop it, Dad." I told him.

"C'mon, Vince! Don't be a killjoy!" Stephen told me and they laughed again.

"Don't tease Vince anymore, Kuya Steve. He's getting uncomfy, can't you see?" Rae
warned Stephen.

"Okay, okay! Chill, guys." Stephen answered.

"The convo's getting hot in here, eh?" Mom said.

"Well, you can say that." Dad said and flashed me a devilish smile.
- - -

After we're done eating, I gave Rae a ride home. I dropped her off in the nearest
bus station. She's real weird. Does bus looks better than my Porsche? But anyway, I
tolerated her.

"You sure you're okay here?" I asked her for the last time.

"Yeah. Thanks for the ride. I'll text you when I get home!" She assured me and went
inside the bus while still waving at me.
Fourth Rain
- - -

"Where's Rae?" Stephen asked me. He decided to stay at our place first so we can
play my Wii.

"She said that I can drop her off at the bus station." I answered him while I was
getting a glass of water in the fridge.

"WHAT!" Stephen exclaimed. "If I have known she'll do that, I would have
accompanied you two!" He added.

"Why? Wha---What is wrong?!" I asked him confusely.

"She's sick!" Stephen answered.

"Si---Sick?! What sickness?" I asked furiously.

"I dunno! My sis told me she's sick and I should take care of her! Argh. Sis will
kill me." Stephen replied.

"Oh, it isn't bad, right?" I asked him.

"Of course not! Maybe just a plain cold or something?" He answered.

"Then let's go!" I told him and quickly grabbed my car keys.
- - -

We quickly went to the bus station. When I saw a familiar man that I've seen a
while ago, I went to him and asked. "Sir, did you happen to see the lady I've
brought here a while ago?" I asked.

"Oh, the beautiful one wearing a skirt? Well, after you went away, she immediately
left the bus."

WHAT THE HECK?!

"But where did she go?!" Stephen then asked.

"Ah, she asked me the way to the park. Maybe she went there."

"Okay! Thank you, kind Sir." I said and followed Stephen to the park.
- - -

The man was right indeed. Rae was there in the park. Sitting quietly, feeling the
brush of the wind that caresses her angelic face.

I was feeling good already by looking at her when Stephen elbowed me suddenly.

"What?!" I asked him.

"Go to her. Ask her."

"Ask her what?!"

"Why doesn't she want you to give her a ride home."

"Shut up, dude. Let her be. Let's just follow her wherever she goes."
"Whatever you say, dude." Stephen said and rolled his eyes like gay. Pfft.

Fifth Rain
- - -

We are still at the park. Stephen even joked me that he will buy two popcorns and
we'll keep watching this silent movie (like Charlie Chaplin does before) starring
Marie Claire "Rae" Maniego. We just laughed.
- - -

It's already lunchtime and Rae is still there doing nothing. We're really hungry
but Stephen and I don't have a choice. We need to watch over Rae, or else his
sister will kill him.

"Hey, you want me to buy food?" Stephen asked me.

"Sure thing, dude. I'll watch over--- WHERE IS SHE?!" I said. God, she was just
there and on one moment, she was already gone.

"Can I go with you?" Somebody suddenly asked us.

When we looked, it was...

"RAE?!"

"Why? Something wrong?" She asked us.

"W--- Why are you here?!" We managed to ask her while stammering.

"Why? Did you happen to buy this property without my knowledge?" She sarcastically
answered.

"No! What I meant was, a while ago, you were there in the wooden bench, peacefully
sitting, then suddenly, you're here!" I exclaimed.

"I saw you already the first second you were here. But I pretended otherwise."
After she said that, she smiled. As if very proud of what she did.

I can't get angry at her. She smiles even at the sight of a flower in bloom. She is
a very simple person with simple dreams...

Sixth Rain
- - -

Instead of getting angry at her, we just laughed and treated her at a Mami House.
Yes, mami for lunch. So weird, right? We know. But all of us are hungry and that
was the nearest place to eat in, so we ended up at that place.

"Whew! I might fart later!" Stephen jokingly said after we ate. I just smiled while
Rae let out a small "Eew" for reaction.
- - -

"Hey, I lost track of the time. It's already 10 PM." Stephen commented suddenly
while we are eating our ice cream. Yes, I know what you're thinking. We've had
weird snacks for this day.
"Oh really?" I said. "Then I guess it's time to go---"

"STARGAZING!" Rae exclaimed.

Stephen and I both look at her with "what-the-heck-are-you-saying" look.

"Well, it's starry tonight. And I'm thinking it's cool to stargaze." She answered
us.

I looked at Stephen. Stephen looked at me."So, what are we gonna do?" Stephen
asked.

"Stargazing! Pretty please with cherries on top?" Rae pleaded again.

Stephen looked at me and I shrugged. "Well then, let's go and gaze at the stars!"
Stephen finally decided and we went to the cemetery for a clear view in the night
sky.
- - -

I'm really sleepy. It has been two hours since we've been here. I haven't slept a
wink yet! God. So frustrating.

"Ugh. I'm so sleepy." I murmured.

"You want to sleep?" rae asked me. Her voice was like a gentle lullaby that drifts
me to sleep.

"Yeah."

"You can lie on the grass."

"But I don't have a pillow!" I ranted.

"You can rest your head in my hips." She offered. Then, she straightened her legs
so I can rest there.

I looked at Stephen but he just smiled and shrugged, as if saying, "Go! Grab your
chance now! I won't mind at all."

So I did what Rae told me. I lied on the grass, then rested my head on her legs. In
no time, I was already in Dreamland, dreaming of Rae...

Seventh Rain
- - -

I woke up in another place. I knew it even before I opened my eyes because the
place where I lie now doesn't have the "grassy" feeling anymore. When I finally
opened my eyes, it was confirmed. I'm not in the cemetery anymore. I'm in my room,
lying in my comfortable bed. I sat and saw a little note in my bedside table.
Quote
Hey, I would have watched the sunset with the two of you, but both of you fell
asleep. Kuya Steve woke up after sunrise.

Anyways, we brought you here in your house but you're such a sleepyhead that you
didn't know!

Rae
The little note made me laugh. Well, I haven't slept for a whole day so you can't
blame me!

I shot another look at the note. Every day that passes, I am liking Rae more and
more. And now, I'm gonna start my move... I'LL COURT HER.
- - -

I immediately called Stephen for pointers on how to court a girl. Well, I don't
have any idea. I've never courted a girl before. It was the other way around, while
Stephen, on the other hand, always courts a girl.

"Hey dude. What's new?" Stephen asked me.

"Any pointers about courting a girl?" I straightly asked him.

"WHOA! You're gonna court somebody?! O.O" Stephen asked me.

"Hey Stevie. Don't be over-acting." I said then laughed casually.

"DUDE! Are you serious?!" Stephen said, his eyes are still wide.

"Yeah."

"Who's the lucky girl, man?"

I didn't answer and just shrugged. "Do you really need to know every single
detail?" I asked him irritably.

"Well, no details, no help." He answered and laughed devilishly.

"You're the worst, dude."

"C'mon, tell me now." Stephen pleaded as he make the puppy eyes.

"EEW! You're gross, dude!" I told him while laughing.

"Who is it? C'mon dude."

Well, since he won't help me if he doesn't know, then I'll tell him. "It's HER."

"Her who?"

"HER!"

"HER WHO?!"

"IT'S RAE!"

"..."

Eighth Rain
- - -

"Seriously dude, it's Rae?" Stephen asked me with disappointment in his voice.
"Yeah. Why?" I asked him.

"Nothing." He said, went to the fridge and straightly drank one pitcher of cold
water.

"DUDE! What the hell are you doing?!" I asked him.

"Nothing dude. I'm just... Thirsty. Yeah, thirsty." He answered and smiled.

"Whatever you say." He said and rolled his eyes like gay again. Pfft.

"So, what are the pointers?" I asked him.

"Uhh, I'll give you the tutorial tomorrow, okay?" He answered and gave me a weak
smile. I just nodded because he really looks sick.

"You want me to send you home?" I asked him.

"NO!" He answered with vehemence in his voice. "I---I mean, I can manage." He
answered and dash to the door.

"I wonder what was his problem." I murmured to myself. "Stevie has been real weird
today."
- - -

I went up to my own room and tried to research on the internet on how to court a
girl. But I can't find anything that will really help me.

"Ugh. I guess I need to follow my instincts because I don't think Stevie will be a
real help." I said to myself and put my hand on my forehead and tried to get some
more sleep to remove the dark circles around my eyes.
- - -

It has been two weeks since I started to court Rae. It's going well, I must say. I
know I have the biggest chance on being her boyfriend, so far.

Tonight, she told me that she will tell me her answer. And I am very excited about
it.

I put on my best dress and my best perfume for tonight. I'll take Rae to a fine
dining tonight to impress her.
- - -

The soft ticking of the clock makes my heart beat faster and louder. I saw Rae
escorted by the waiter to the table I reserved for the two of us. I am very
nervous, really.

"Hey." She said and smiled.

"Hi." was all I was able to say.

"Shall we eat?" I asked.

"Sure thing." She answered and we started to ate.

"So what's the real score?" I asked her.

"Vince..."
Ninth Rain
- - -

"Vince... Uhh..."

"Why?" I asked casually although deep inside, I am feeling nervous. I don't know if
the answer's negative or positive.

"Vince... I--- I love you too!" She said, stood up, walked up to me and hugged me.

"Is--- Is this real?" was all I was able to say.

"Yes, baby!" She said and kissed me. "God, I never thought..." I said and looked at
her face dreamily.

"C'mon, let's celebrate!" She said and pulled me to the door.

- - -

"May 5, 2005..." I murmured to myself.

"What are you saying?"

"Our first anniversary is May 5, 2006! And that would be Friday next year!" I
exclaimed.

"Wow." She said and laughed.

"What's funny, lady?"

"YOU!"

"Don't play with me."

"But I am playing with you!"

"There's only one way to know how to shut you up..." I seriously said and went near
her and kissed her lips.
- - -

We are now on our third week together. I formally introduced her with my parents
last week. The first one to know that we are now together was Stevie and the second
one was Fraederick, my cousin.

"Ugh. Vacation will be over soon." She told me.

"Yeah. I'll be graduating next sem!"

"Cool."

"You're just first year college. Where did you enroll?"

"On Stevie's school."

"Ah, okay." was all I was able to utter. Deep inside, I was disappointed. I thought
she'll enroll in my school.
"Vince, I've got something to tell you..." She said out of the blue.

"Fire away."

"I... I wanna break up with you." She said and shook her head.

"WHAT?!"

"I want my freedom."

"Why?" Did I do anything wrong?!

"It's not you, Vince. It's me. I loved you." She said and walked out of the door.

Tenth Rain

- - -

I was devastated. My parents are pitying on me. But they don�t dare ask me. They
know that we�ve broken up, but they didn�t ask for further details. They told me
that I can open up to them whenever I�m ready. And now is not the time.
- - -

I decided to go to Stevie�s place to loosen up a little bit. I went there without

notice so I can surprise him.

�It was a success! My revenge plan was a success! Thank you very much, Kuya and
Rae!� Somebosy shouted.

�I am happy for you, sis. But I just feel guilty for Vince. I mean, he was my
friend.� Hey, that was Stephen�s voice! And why were they talking about me? What
revenge?

�Yeah, me too. He was good to me. And he was devastated. He really loved me. And I
liked him a lot as a friend.�

�C�mon! He deserved it. He hurt me.� Huh? I hurt her? Who was she?!

�Dani, isn�t that a bit selfish?�Stephen asked her.

�Forget about it. He�s not important. Plus! You two can be together again.� WHAT?!
RAE AND STEPHEN?!

I decided to step inside, not minding the wobbling of my knees.

�VINCE?!�

�Wha--- What are you doing here?!� The girl said. She was familiar� But I can�t
figure it out. My brain can�t function right. I saw Rae and Stephen� With Stephen�s
arm around Rae�s waist.

�So, it was all a lie, eh? Everything was scripted. Cool.�

�Vince, I�m sorry��

�Do you really think that your �sorry� can bring back things? It won�t change
anything. It won�t bring back my trust on both of you.� I turned to the girl who
was the mastermind of the plan. �Who the hell are you?! Why did you have grudge on
me!?�

�You really can�t remember me, Lorenzo?� Lorenzo? In all of my past girlfriends,
only one girl called me that� And that was�

�Danielle! Stop it.� Stephen exclaimed.

�Danielle?! You�re Stephen�s sister?!� My eyes were wide in disbelief. Danielle was
my girlfriend when I was first year College. I pursued her for fun and broke up
with her after a week.

�Yes, I am! You�ve hurt me so much, Lorenzo. So I planned everything. I took my

revenge and look! It was a blockbuster success if it was a movie.� She said and
laughed.

�I� I can�t believe it��

�You don�t have to believe it anymore, Lorenzo. Because we�ve done it.� Danielle
answered wickedly.

I didn�t mind her. I went to Stephen and punched him. Then, I walked out as if
nothing happened.
- - -

A year has passed. I�ve graduated Business Management. I went out on a few blind
dates but my heart is still with Rae.

One afternoon, my parents approached me.

�Vince?�

�Yes, Mom?�

�We�ve got something to tell you.�

�Your engagement party will be held next month.� Dad said.

�WHAT!?�

�We�ve arranged your marriage. Is that okay?�

�You�ve already arranged it. It�s nothing. My heart is still with Rae, anyway.� I
answered coldly. The truth is, I don�t fvcking care who the heck will be that
woman. It will be just entirely for business.

�Vince---�

�Stop it, Mom! I�ve agreed, isn�t that enough?!� Mom and Dad walked out of my
bedroom silently.
- - -

5 months later�

I married Vera. She was a good woman and she loves me. After another year, we had a
son named Lorenz Arvin Herman, who will continue the empire of Herman family.
Epilogue

- - -

20 years later...

"As they've said, a picture holds a thousand words. And I firmly believe that. When
I saw the picture of me and Rae, flashbacks came to me... To my wounded mind and
heart. Rae never came back to me... She went with Stephen. She told me she liked
me... But as a friend only. It hurt me a lot. I love her. But I don't want to push
people around so they would love me back.

Love comes unexpectedly. Just as I met Rae in the bar. Love is innocent. Sometimes,
people use the word "love" for selfish reasons, not thinking of other people who
really loves. Just like Danielle did. Love is forgiving. Even if Rae cheated on me,
I don't have any grudge about it... Because that is real love... And Rae is still
the unique and beautiful rain in my summer."

I turned the cassette player off. My Dad passed away a week ago, and I decided to
open his locked vault. I searched around our house to find the combination, and I
found it underneath Dad's table. It was 050505. I don't know what is special with
that number, but maybe it has something to do with that Rae girl. The woman who
made my Mom cry every single night because when Dad was sleeping, he still whispers
"Rae." The woman whom my Dad loved so much. And the woman who hurt both of my
parents.

I forced myself to stand up, unmindful of my weak knees. I promise myself, that I
will never be like my Dad, who was caught up in the rain in summer.