Rain and a Symphony
The downtown streets gleamed in the faint light of the streetlamps as the rain continued to pour steadily throughout the day. With her coat wrapped close around her, Elena stood beneath the awning of a little café, watching the rain dance on the pavement. She had always loved the rain because it made the world seem less harsh and more peaceful, transforming the busy metropolis into a serene setting conducive to reflection.
Savoring the warmth that coursed through her palms, she took slow, deep breaths from her coffee. The café was almost completely vacant . aside from a few regulars who were hunched together, deep in thought, over their beverages. Elena looked at her watch; she had been there for about sixty minutes and he was nowhere to be seen. She let out a sigh, attempting to contain her displeasure. Maybe the weather discouraged him, or maybe he had forgotten. In any case, she understood that she ought to go, yet something held her there.
The café door opened as she was about to give up, bringing with it the smell of rain and earth in a burst of wind.
When Elena looked up and saw a familiar man shaking raindrops from his umbrella in the doorway, her heart skipped a beat.
Leo was the one.
He almost saw her right away, and as he walked over, a smile appeared on his face. .. He was just as tall as she recalled, with dark hair that coiled slightly at the ends and warm, inviting eyes.
With a deep baritone voice that made her quiver, he said, “Elena.” “I apologize for being late. The traffic was horrendous.
Her prior disappointment vanished as she grinned. It’s alright. I was starting to believe you wouldn’t make it. He met her gaze and said, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” holding it there for a little longer than was necessary.
They had coincidentally met a year prior at the opening of a mutual friend’s exhibition. Elena had been looking at a very attractive painting when she felt a presence next to her. Turning around, she saw Leo staring at the same painting with a contemplative expression.
“Isn’t that beautiful?” He had stated. She had no idea if they were still discussing the artwork, but she had said, “It is,” in agreement.
The rest of the evening was spent conversing, during which they discovered a mutual appreciation for music, art, and the small things in life that add enormous value. Their relationship had clicked right away, a spark that was at once thrilling and dangerous. However, circumstances often made it more difficult—Leo wasn’t staying in the city for very long, and their paths weren’t aligning. After parting ways and promising to stay in touch, their correspondence gradually decreased to sporadic messages, each one coming from a farther distance than the last, as the months went by.
Therefore, when Leo unexpectedly called and proposed a meeting Though she had been taken aback, Elena’s excitement at the prospect of seeing him again had not left her.
They took a seat at a little table by the window, and their chat was softly lit by the rain. Resuming their connection was effortless, seeming as though no time had gone at all They discussed everything and nothing at the same time, including their careers, families, and the things that had changed and remained the same since their last meeting.
But there was a question that lingered between them, an unsaid tension beneath the surface. Elena could sense it in the way Leo would stare at her for extended periods of time and in the awkward silences.
Leo finally sat back in his chair as the dusk light softened and the rain started to stop and gave her a look, his visage more somber than it had been throughout the evening
“Elena,” he began, his voice soothing, “I’ve thought about you a lot since we last saw each other.”
She waited for him to continue, her look neutral despite the fluttering in her heart.
He scratched the back of his neck and replied, “I know we didn’t exactly part on the best terms.” And I regret doing that. I felt guilty for not trying harder to maintain contact and make things work.
Feelings tumbling inside Elena, she swallowed. “It was challenging,” she said. “Our priorities and locations were dissimilar. The timing wasn’t appropriate.
Leo looked into her eyes as he nodded. “I am aware. However… I can’t stop imagining the possibilities. What remains possible And there it was, the question hanging over our heads was finally answered. Elena’s heart began to race as she felt her breath seize in her throat. More often than she would have liked to admit, she had also considered it. However, she had consistently ignored the ideas, telling herself that it was too late and that too much time had gone by.
She wasn’t so sure, though, when she sat across from Leo.
She spoke gently, “I’ve missed you,” before she could stop herself.
Leo’s expression softened and a gentle smile appeared on his face. “Even I have missed you. More than you realize For an instant, they were silent, a lot of emotions hovering in the air between them. Now that it had ceased entirely, the world outside the window appeared to be glowing in the gentle light of the lowering sun.
Could we perhaps start afresh, in your opinion? Reluctant to speak up, Leo questioned. Give it to us once more.
With a rushing mind, Elena turned to face him. Making this significant choice could have far-reaching effects. She was struck, however, by the warmth and assurance that had been absent for far too long as she met Leo’s gaze and saw that the dread had vanished.
Grinning broadly, she extended her hand to grasp his. She only said, “I’d like that.”
Leo grinned broadly as he closed his fingers over hers in a way that seemed both strange and comfortable at the same time. After being apart for too long, it felt as though they were two notes in a symphony that were finally coming together in perfect harmony.
They talked about the future, the things they wanted to accomplish together, and the kind of life they could create while staying at the café till it got dark. Elena experienced a sense of calm that she hadn’t experienced in a while when they eventually departed and walked outside into the crisp evening air
With their hands still intertwined, Elena looked up at Leo as they strolled down the streets covered in rain, her heart overflowing. The city surrounding them was filled with the sounds of the night, but all she could hear was the steady beat of their boots, the tune of a fresh start.
And the future didn’t look so bleak for the first time in a long time. It appeared to be a promise—a lovely thing waiting to be written.
I hope you enjoyed this love story!
