Rainy Memories

You walked down to the station, leather suitcase in hand. You are on your way out of your hometown, going to a prestigious college that would allow your to get a good job to support your family. It was what your family needed most, seeing that your father might now be getting sick, just like your mother. You have also have taken on the responsibility to care for your two younger siblings who still need someone to look after them. You didn't want to leave them, but it is better than working three jobs that don't pay.

Your childhood friend accompanies you, since your parents can't. You get to the platform before you finally stop walking, waiting to be let on board.

"I guess this is it huh, Anne," He says. You nod, avoiding his gaze as subtly as you can.

"I guess this is, James," You reply. "Just say it," you silently reminded yourself. You knew you'd regret it if you didn't. You move your gaze from the floor to meet his eyes.

"I love you," You said without any warning. Perhaps you should have prefaced it first, because the suddenness of your statement seems to have caught them off guard. He takes a step back and pulls their gaze away from yours. Your breath hitches in your throat.

"It wasn't the right time. It was now or never, but it should have been never," A small voice in your head whispers. He doesn't say anything. He just stands there, staring at the ground, avoiding your eyes.

"I... I don't know what to say," He finally responds. You swallow your tears, unsure of how to process his words. The train whistles behind you and lets out a puff a steam.

Without another word, you grab your bags and run to the train. You had wanted your last moment in your childhood home to be something special. Something you could keep close. A reason to come back. Instead you had made it awkward and miserable. Not just for yourself, but for him as well.

"Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut? Or instead just said goodbye and left it at that?" You wonder. You get to your compartment on the train and set your stuff on the rack above your head. You've kept your emotions hidden for long enough, but now that you are alone, you cannot contain them anymore. Tears begin to fall slowly down you cheeks. You still try to stop them, but it only slows their flow. Someone walks by your compartment and you are glad that you have locked the door and pulled the shade down.

When the train begins to roll, you stop your tears long enough to move over to the window. You begin to pull this sun shade down as well, but something catches your eye. Something was causing the crowd on the platform to stur. As you take a better look, you see your childhood friend run through the crowd, chasing after the train. You open the window once he gets close.

"What are you doing?" You yell, trying to be heard over the train engine.

Instead of speaking, he reaches you and slips something into your hand. Your fingers fist around it and your friend stops running as the platform ends.

Closing the window as the rain begins to fall, you sit back down and open your palm. Inside is a small slip of paper. You unfold it and read the words written in familiar handwriting.

"I love you too. Meet me in our favorite spot when you get back. I'll be waiting." Is all that is written. You smile, knowing exactly where he means. It is the spot where we had met and one that we returned to regularly to play in the cool of the shade.

❁

During the two years you are away, you are very homesick. You get to talk to your parents on the phone, but you can hear it in their voices that they need for you to return. James said he would help them in any way he could and from what your parents have said, he has stuck to that. You are grateful for his help, but still wish you were home to help them as well. Your siblings have sent you letters tell you all the fun things they have been doing at their school and how much James has been playing with them and helping your parents. The letters help keep my spirits high and allow you to focus on your schoolwork, knowing that your family is in good hands.

You study Biology and hope to become a teacher back home. You also now know what is the best way to grow crops and care for animals, which will help your small, self-sustaining town.

When you graduate, you finally get to go back home after two long years of learning.

❁

You are walking back into town when you see the willow tree that you played under as a child. You see someone under it and go closer to investigate. Suddenly, James peaks his head out from the willow leaves and laughs as you jump in surprise.

"I told you I would be waiting," He says. You playfully punch him in the arm before heading back to the road. He follows after you and can tell that you are pleased to see him. You can tell that things have changed between the two of you, but it doesn't make it awkward like you had expected it too.

"How was college?"

"Oh you know. Stress, late nights studying, that kind of thing," You reply. He nods, "How are my parents?"

"They're okay. They have been missing you more and more every day."

"I can only imagine." There is silence between the two of you for a long time as you walk down the dusty road with the town growing closer with every step. When we got to my parent's house, you hesitated at the door.

"It's good to have you back," James says.

"Yeah, it's good to be back," You answer. You both wait for a long moment before he waved me goodbye and turned to walk away. You wave at his back and go inside to see your family, glad to be back where you belong.