A Promise in the Morning Rain

Everything seemed to be cleansed by the early rain, and the world outside shone in the resulting gentle light. I met him in the little village of Windmere, which was tucked away on the outskirts of a mile-long forest. Instead of being a torrential downpour, the rain was a light mist that left the ground smelling delicious and damp. The world seemed to be waiting for something to happen, as seen by the unusually calm streets.

The mornings following rain had always delighted me; the flowers were brighter, the grass seemed greener, and everything seemed more alive. However, I was unable to adequately describe the feeling of anticipation that pervaded the air today. The weather seemed to know more than I did.

With my umbrella in hand, I went outside my front door and allowed the refreshing breeze to caress my skin. It reminded me of the season, although it was not too cold. The onset of spring was gradual but constant. I took a long breath of the clean air.

Someone shouted, "Good morning, Lily!" from the pavement.

When I looked up, I saw Matt standing across the street, his face framed by the wet locks of his dark hair. Matt was the boy I had known my entire life and who had always been there for me no matter what. The one I never imagined losing, until I did.

I smiled slightly and said, "Good morning," even though my heart felt a little heavier than usual. Even though he always smiled easily, there was something strained about it now. Neither of us feared to admit that something was odd.

I wanted to ask him how he was actually doing, but I was unable to finish my sentence. I was unable to shove him away once more. Not after all that had transpired. following everything that we had lost. He had been my confidant, my best friend, and the only one who ever truly understood me. But here we were, standing apart, and the reason for our separation was something none of us had quite grasped until it was too late.

However, I was unable to return. After all, we had tried, and it had failed. Silently at first, then suddenly, the gap between us had widened.

"How is your mother doing?" I broke the stillness by asking.

"She is better," Matt replied in a detached tone. He was obviously uncomfortable as he moved his weight from one foot to the other. "The normal stuff, you know."

Even though I knew it was not actually the answer, I nodded. Both of them had suffered because of his mother's long-term illness. I could see the cracks starting to appear, but Matt had always been the one to hold everything together. I was at a loss on how to assist him. I had no idea if he wanted me to or not.

His voice grew softer as he replied, "I have been thinking a lot." "Just about... everything."

My heart skipped a beat. It was this. The discussion we had been avoiding, the one we both knew was unavoidable but neither of us wanted to have.

He stepped closer and interrupted, saying, "You do not have to say anything." Raindrops were now hitting the pavement in steady rhythms as the rain started to fall more heavily. "I understand."

Between us, the words lingered in the refreshing mist. The same vulnerability that I had attempted to hide in myself was visible in his eyes. But it was so obvious. Both of us were broken. Despite our differences, we were both lost at the same time.

With a steady gaze, he whispered, "I made a commitment, Lily." "To me. that I would make things right. that I would not allow us to disintegrate.

A knot formed in my throat. Although the words were straightforward, they carried a great deal of weight. When things were hard, Dad had always been the one to persevere and stand up for us. I was the one who had always let go.

I muttered, "But sometimes, Matt, things fall apart anyhow."

I could see the effort in his face as his eyes darkened. In order to persuade me that there was still time, he wanted to debate. that it might be possible. that we were able to repair the damage.

His voice was raw as he replied, "I do not want to lose you."

I inhaled deeply as the words burned on the tip of my mouth. I always withdrew, but suddenly, at this precise time, I became aware of something. I also did not want to lose him.

"We still have each other," I replied quietly as I glanced up at him. Perhaps we do not have to make all the changes at once. Perhaps we should start small.

Slowly nodding, he seemed to be taking in what I had said as the gravity of the situation set in. Even though we were not entirely sure where that page would go, there was a sense of calmness in the air now, even if the rain was still falling all around us.

With a tiny, sincere smile on his lips, he remarked, "I guess I can live with that."

I returned the smile, experiencing optimism in my chest for the first time in a long time. As though the world had stopped for us, we stood there in the rain, staring at one another. The universe itself seemed to be holding its breath, anticipating our next move.

Matt continued, his voice hardly audible above a whisper, "Make me a promise." "Tell me we will try." Regardless.

I sensed the earnestness in his words, the silent appeal that lay underlying them. And I nodded without hesitation, without hesitation.

"I swear," I said. "We will give it a shot."

And when the rain started to lessen, I realized that we had promised one another something regardless of what came next. A pledge to never give up on the connection we once shared, to never give up, and to keep trying and fighting.

After a few days, the silence between us became heavier with the weight of that commitment. The little things started to seem different, but I was not sure what had changed, if anything. We started talking a little more freely. We were no longer separated by such long silences. The unspoken things that had separated us for so long were no longer a barrier between us.

My favorite times of day were still the mornings after the rain. Now, though, I was not alone myself when I went outside. Matt was also present. On occasion, while the sky was still gray from a storm's aftermath, we would stroll together. However, even a little rain may wipe away the things that had been festering. It reduced the hurt, but it did not completely remove it. made it more tolerable.

Matt looked to me and smiled tentatively one morning when the sun finally peaked through the clouds and illuminated the town with a golden glow. He added in a lighter tone than I had heard in a while, "I think we are doing okay."

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a bit lighter. "I believe we are."

It was not flawless. It remained unfixed. In spite of everything that had transpired, however, there was a tiny glimmer of something worthwhile. The pledge was to attempt rather than to do everything perfect. about persevering through all difficulties.

Even though the rain had ceased, I was aware that we were still determining what to do next. It might work out. It might not. However, it did not matter at the time. The fact that we had promised was what counted. And that was sufficient for the time being.