As I stand, looking out at the pouring rain, holding a sweet treat in my hands and a bag heavy with files on my left shoulder, the weight reminds me—I got fired from my job today.
Sigh… Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse, someone rushing past me shoves me from behind, nearly knocking the sweet out of my hand.Muttering under my breath, "Of course. Perfect. Kick me while I'm down."
I don't even have an umbrella. And booking a taxi will cost me a lot. I need to spend my money wisely until I get another job.
Looks at the sweet bun in hand, mumbles:"Except for today… let me treat myself to sweets."
I look up at the sky. I don't think the rain's going to stop anytime soon.Guess I have no choice but to take a taxi.
Taxi… I wave.
.
.
Steps echo in the dim corridor.Click…The door unlocks.
I hurriedly step inside and take a long, warm shower to wash away my sadness.
Sigh… I feel good now.
Lying on the couch, I turn on the TV and continue watching Nineteen to Twenty, a reality show where young adults share newfound freedoms and first-time experiences as they transition from their teenage years to their twenties.
Sighs dramatically with a donut in my mouth.
Watching this show is making me feel even sadder today.
I walk to the window and watch the rain splattering on the glass, the faint noise from the street mixing with soft laughter coming from the TV. I can't help but think of my high school days.
Flashback…
"Acacia," someone calls my name.
I turn and see Lucas walking toward me with an umbrella in his hand.
I was standing near the open balcony of our school, watching some students playing in the rain while others waited for it to stop.
I smiled. "Hey."
Lucas said, "Let me walk you home," as he looked around, probably checking if I had an umbrella.
I did. It was tucked inside my bag but I didn't want to take it out.
We walked together in the rain, our shoulders almost touching. I couldn't help but hold my breath.
I could smell his cologne and the scent of fresh rain on the mud—it made me dizzy in a good way.
"Thank you for walking me home," I said, trying to hide my wide grin.
He smiled back. "And I thank the rain."
There it was—my full smile.
He waved. "I'll see you tomorrow, Acacia."
I stood there, watching him until I couldn't see him anymore from my doorstep.
The faint laugh track from the TV pulls me back to the present. I blink and step away from the window.
I haven't thought about him for a while. I wonder how he's doing now.
I look at my laptop, still open on the couch. I didn't mean to write about Lucas, but somehow I ended up doing it anyway—even if I changed the names.
So I wrote Ella, and I gave her moments from my own life—the good, the awkward, the kind you wish you could live again and also wish you could forget and Lou, well, I didn't need much imagination to bring him to life.
This is their story.But somewhere in between, it's also mine.