The rain drops crawled down the glass window like tiny spiders. A storm was brewing outside. It had been sunny all week except for today. But that did not matter, the girl liked the rain. It had always reminded her of the distance between the earth and the heavens, with the rain as their connection. At least, there was always a rainbow at the end of every downpour. Her parents were late. They did not tell her where they had to go, or when they were supposed to be there, but she knew they were late. They were rushing, scrambling to grab their heavy weather coats and their black umbrellas, matching their attire today. Unlike her parents, the girl preferred the cool feeling of the rain against her skin. Although she may catch a cold in the aftermath, she knew would not be as sick as him. Her mother held a bouquet of white lilies in her hand. Personally, for lilies, the girl preferred the ones of the valley. They drooped, but they held a tiny sense of endurance; it was as if from their standing a return of new happiness would be seen.
She knew they were too busy to care, but she complained anyways. “Why isn’t it here yet? He just started writing back too! After two whole weeks! Where’s my letter!?” she shifted slightly as she sat on the last steps of the front lobby. Al had just started writing back after weeks of nothing, a week was an eternity at her age. “What ever happened to ‘through rain or shine, we’ll deliver your mail’?!”
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Her father picked up the keys to the family’s lavish automobile, the same one that had driven them here, their new home. A perk of the new job.
“Sweetie, it’s a Sunday. Mailmen take their days off on Sundays.”
The girl crossed her arms and pouted out her bottom lip, “but –”
“I’m sure your letter will come in tomorrow sweetheart,” her mother rushed in as she kissed the top of the girl’s head. “Now your father and I are running late, but in the mean time have fun with Nana, okay? I don’t to repeat myself, but please put your skates away where they belong. And you better be in bed by the time we get back, you’ve got school tomorrow.”
Her parents always left her behind when it came to their adult functions. Similarly, to her exclusion on their decision to move again, just as soon as she had made a friend. The girl felt she was old enough to be included, she did not need a babysitter, she was already 12. Rather, it felt like she was the one sitting for her grandmother instead.
“Your mother is right, young lady. I don’t want you worrying about any letter sent by that boy Al–”
“Yeah, yeah I got it. Have fun…. where ever you’re going.”
Her father and mother exchanged quick glances, unnoticed by the girl, before heading out. The door was shut and the girl was left staring out the window at the furious pit-a-patting of the craftsmanship of the crawling spiders. One could not tell for how long she sat there. She was lost in a barren space of her own. She was finally awakened from her trance by the irregular fit of coughing by her Nana upstairs. She worried something might be wrong so she headed up the steep staircase.
