Rain

Barry hated the rain. Maybe.

It was dark outside.

For 10 in the morning, anyway, thought Barry, as he lifted his recycled paper cup full of caffeine and took a mild-mannered sip of his coffee.

His right side was a little chilly from the cold seeping through the large glass window he sat next to, and he absently rubbed a hand over his upper arm. He had originally been somewhat excited to start his day at his favorite cafe, but the sudden onslaught of cold, winter rain had put somewhat of a damper - he chuckled humorlessly at the pun - on his mood. 

Barry hated the rain. It reminded him of physical hurts, of when he would slip and slide on slick sidewalks as he rushed back home from school as a child.  It reminded him of ruined plans, of when he would get revved up to hang out at the beach with friends, only to have the weather forecast force him to stay inside. 

Most of all, it reminded him of his failed relationships, all of which somehow involved rain at the breakup point - Gloria had dumped his teenaged self via text as he waited for her outside in the pouring rain, Lana from his workplace had firmly and adamantly turned quite literally from his romantic advances, causing him to trip into a muddy puddle as he attempted to reach out to her, and his most recent and longest-lasting relationship with May had ended when she told him she couldn’t do this anymore (meaning their relationship)…while they were watching Singin’ in the Rain. That last one still made him chuckle a little at the sheer irony of it. 

The saddest part of all, he figured, was that of all his relationships, he thought that May might the one who stuck it out with him until the very end. He didn’t ever go so far as to say he loved her, but if he was being honest with himself, he did. He never got the chance to tell her, but if he had, he wondered if she would have stayed.

Barry huffed out a breath and looked down at the coffee cup in his hands, its contents long since gone cold. His hands remained clutched around the cup as if through his inner musings, he had tried to draw some semblance of warmth into the coldness of his memories. He released his grip and flattened his hands against the wooden surface of the table as he leaned back in his chair, tilting his head up to listen to the sound of the rain beat against the sorrows of his mind. 

The repeated barrage of pelting rain outside suddenly skipped a measure in its rhythm with the tinkling bell of the café door opening and closing. Barry turned his head towards the sound in slight curiosity and did a double take as he recognized the drenched but smiling woman at the door as his ex, May. He felt his imagination soar as his mind quickly fantasized about the pair meeting eyes, reconciling, and then dating for a time until he proposed and they married and lived happily ever after. He shook his head slightly, grimacing at his own fluffy thoughts, not noticing the man who came through the door after her. Barry looked back at May just in time to see the man tuck a damp strand of hair out of her face as she muttered something, to which the man let out a short bark of laughter before kissing her cheek lightly and fondly saying, “I love you.”

It was apparent in the ease in which he said it that that was not the first time the man had uttered that particular phrase to her, but despite that, May’s face still lit up at his words, even while she, embarrassed, ushered her partner farther into the café. Barry watched as his ex-lover radiated happiness next to her new lover. Though he thought the sight would make him upset, for some reason, he realized that instead, he actually felt all right. She had found someone who made her happy and who wasn’t afraid to say the words that Barry could never say. He did not feel bitter, like his dark roast coffee, nor did he feel worn, like the luster of his table. He felt … fine. He felt okay. He felt like maybe the rain in his life would eventually lead him to happiness the way his and May’s storm of a relationship had led her to her happiness.

Now that, Barry, is disgustingly optimistic and romantic, he inwardly chastised himself, pushing the imagery from his head and returning to his previous position of leaning back in his chair.

Fat droplets of rain continued to plop against the window beside him, but Barry found that he somehow didn’t mind the sound as much anymore.

Author's Note

Another one-word prompted story!

Please comment/review and let me know what y'all think! :)

Reviews

[Lee Bakes]

This story gave me the warm and fuzzies!!! :D I like how you take rain as being something associated with sadness and turn it around in the end. and I also think that you kept your story very meaningful and yet not sickeningly sweet to sound overoptimistic, I like how Barry still is left without a lover but finds contentment in the happiness of someone he once loved. The only things I would change would be the times when he chuckles because both the times it seemed as if it wasn't barry but the author that was chuckling while she (you) wrote it and that sorta feels like a glitch. But then that's just me :) anyway this is a really warm piece of writing and you have a gift for creating atmosphere, oh how I wish the monsoons were here now!

[kristollini]

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!! Glad you enjoyed it :D

Yes!! This was a one-word prompt on a list and I wanted to stray a bit from the oft-used symbolism of rain as something sad, so I'm glad that you felt that from the story!

And HAHA you're probably somewhat correct in your idea of it actually being me chuckling when Barry chuckles. What I tried to portray his personality like is sort of cynical and sarcastic and the type of guy who would huff when humored by something traditionally funny or ironic, if that makes any sense :P

And thank you!! Still have many areas I can improve on, but I'm flattered to hear your compliments!! Helps me know that I'm getting somewhere :3

[Lee Bakes]

Of course the character you wanted to portray makes sense! Very Bruce Banner type if I may? :O And a character like that is desirable to say the least :O :O

[kristollini]

Ohoho! If you're referring to a Mark Ruffalo-esque Bruce Banner, then yes, I can definitely see that! Haha I can give you and Barry the hook up ;)

[Lee Bakes]

AHHHH! totally fangirling ryt now :D

[alanwgraham]

This is just the sort of stuff I would think about drinking a coffee in the rain! It all rings true which is a hallmark of good writing. Well done! The only comment I could make is that I'm not convinced that second last sentence is needed - I had to read it a few times!
If you have a chance would you like to read my story 'The field' . I would be interested in your take on it - please try to resist reading the other reviews first!
Thanks again,
Alan

[kristollini]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you felt that from this story because that was the intention :D

When you say the second last sentence, are you referring to his inner chastisement? :O

And sure! Feel free to send me a read request and I'll check it out! :)

[alanwgraham]

I've reread that sentence and i get it now - I didn't spot the italics and realise he was talking to himself! Sorry - I'm slow!
Would you mind looking at my piece 'The field'
Thanks again, Alan

[Cherrie]

excellent, growth, warmth and a new perspective for satisfaction.

[kristollini]

I'm glad you think so! :) Thank you for the read/review!

[TheMalady]

I was mesmerized to read the whole story! Very smooth and articulate. I'll follow you up now to learn from your works! After reading this, I suddenly crave to watch raindrops splatter against my windowpane.

Thanks for sharing this story! :)

[kristollini]

Thank you!! I'm glad you liked it! Yessss it's always kind of soothing to sit indoors with a warm drink and a clear window and watch/listen to the rain fall :)

[TheMalady]

You're very welcome! That is so true :)