Rain

as she gazed out of the window in the morning, twisted her old gnarled hands over and over in her lap. it was a beautiful morning, untypical for that mid-march when rainy season was so close. she could feel the iciness running up and down her spine just thinking about it. "ahh... i used to love the rainy season," she croaked sadly as she stroked the cat that was on her lap. the feline responded by purring. "that's right, my pet. when i was just graduated from high school, a long time ago, so long ago that i can hardly remember," she sighed, remembering her past despite her words

"it was such a nice and sunny day. just right for graduation day. my ex-classmates and i were horsing around with our mortar boards. after giving away certificates and awards later in the morning, it was my turn, as valedictorian, to present a speech. i was so proud then. as i was giving out my speech, a couple of black clouds appeared in the sky out of nowhere. then a loud clap of thunder roared across the grey sky. it was then i realised that a storm was coming! before i could do or say anything, a sudden gush of wind blew my mortar board away. it was then that everyone ran helter-skelter for shelter. i quickly left the stage, hasten my pace, and ran towards the auditorium. as i entered the building, i scanned around, searching for my friends. out of nowhere, they appeared behind me and gave me a slap on the back. they were all telling me that my speech made somebody up there cry his eyes out. i knew my friends were teasing me, but ever since that day, they could not stop teasing me ad the washed-out ceremony."

she laughed at herself while stroking her precious one. she smiled broadly just thinking about it. she gazed out of the window once more. no more, the beautiful morning out there! it was gloomy now. thoughts ran through her head as she was thinking abour her one true love, Dean McKean.

"it was the most memorable day of my life: my wedding. i was about to marry my childhood sweetheart. i was in my mother's wedding dress. it was a magnificient dress, filled with sequins with a long lacy train, trailing behind me as u walked down the aisle. my heart was thumping when Dean and i were pronounced huaband and wife. later, we had a buffet outside the church and everyone was having a great time. then, a sudden bolt of lightning flashed in the sky. i knew at a glance that this was just like the graduation episode. Dean luaghed at me as i knew he was thinking about the same thing. after we ran for shelter, i began to cry because i was frustrated that my wedidng was ruined. Dean noticed that i was upset and he consoled me. he then gave me the bear hug that i always liked. he told me that everything was going to be fine..."
as she said these words, her voice was taking on an almost sing-song quality. she then closed her dreamy eyes, a smile played on her lips. she looked out of the window. it seemed it had rained but it had stopped already. smiling, she walked out of her little cottage leaving her cat behind. she sat on her swing, watching the outer world from her swing. children running past shrieking and laughing at each other. adults hurried off to an appointment or something like that. they looked so grey. than, she stopped. grey like me...

she got off the swing with difficulty and went back into her cottage. she found her cart in the excat same place she had left it. the old women sighed. it was a deep contented sigh. "come here, my precious". the feline clambered back into her lap, purring in satisfaction. and there they sat, an old woman and her cat, each lost in their own thoughts...

the old woman thought of her once beautiful golden hair, the wedding when she walked down the aisle to greet the man that she loved. she thought about the rainy day when her twins were borned, and she wept as she thought of looking into the pale green eyes of her dear departed Dean.

she came back into reality, tears streaming down her face. she looked out of the window one last time. it was raining again. she smiled and said just one word, "Rain". she closed her eyes...and they never opened again.