The Storm

Boom!

Thunder rumbles across the sky, bringing with it a spattering of rain and the beginnings of a storm. A large drop of water falls onto my ear as wind buffets around me, causing shivers to course throughout my body.

Boom!

My hair gets caught in the wind where it's sent sprawling into my face. I secure a hand over my hair to keep it in place as the slow patter of rain steadily turns into a torrent of water, and I imagine that the sky is crying for me. Crying for me because I can't.

I lean my head back against the wood and pull my arms closer, rocking back and forth, back and forth. I wish, suddenly, that I could say I was dreaming. That I could pretend it never happened. I wish that I could just push you out of my heart like I usually do... But today, I'm too tired.

Drip drip drip drip drip.

I watch vigilantly the steady fall of rain from the roof of wood under which I'm situated, and feel the memory of you burning throughout my mind, consuming my thoughts. Not even the cool wind and icy rain could make the fire die down. No. With every boom or clap of thunder the flames grow higher and higher, although I'm shivering. 

I turn my face up to the sky, tears finally making an appearance as I remember your smile, your laugh. Your arms wrapped around me. Your words and your love... Your life. The fire finds my heart and drops like a heavy anvil onto the tender, tight strings. You... You are gone. I will never hear your voice again, I'll never see your eyes. Never will I be able to tell you I love you. I'll never be able to thank you for what you've done. What you mean, no, meant to me.

My breath catches and I have to remind myself to breathe. To not get choked on the flames of your life. I lift my head from between my knees and realize that, like your heart, the storm has stopped. All that's left are the afterthoughts. Small scents and sounds and sensations that remind me that it was here.

I wipe the last of my tears away, becoming numb again - Numb to life. Numb to the pain. Numb to the burning - and hop off of my perch, my face blank as I watch water drip from the leaves and onto the sodden ground.

The storm, has ended.


~E.K.M.