The storm was on its way. The clouds above were moving fast. It was easy to tell this was going to be a big storm because of the clouds. Not because of their color, but because of how they were in layers. Way up, back in the distance, there was just a thin layer of clouds. The kind that makes it seem like there never was a blue sky. Then, closer to the ground, you had more clouds. The puffier ones, pretty in their own way. They loomed up there in the sky, staring the earth down as if to say “take cover. Here I come.” Then below them, right on the ground, you had the clouds that walked beside you or followed you around and made you nervous you wouldn’t get indoors soon enough.

All these things Elisa noticed while sitting on a bench in the park. She was waiting quietly and patiently for the one she calls her own. She tried to avoid any eye contact as parents attempt to gather their children to save them from the coming weather. Elisa sat still, waiting. This is where they were to meet. “An hour before the sun is to set,” he had said. Not that she could see the sun right now, so she really couldn’t tell if she was late or early. It didn’t matter. She was in no hurry, though the thought of her own made her queasy.

She moved to a swing abandoned by a little girl. She moved her legs back and forth, her muscles quickly remembering the motion. Her dress, usually reserved for a prettier day, was difficult to hold down as she moved up and down, back and forth. And once the wind began to blow, she gave up the swing. Bench again. There was soon a familiar smell in the air. Rain is coming very soon. A cloud walked by.

There he is! Her muscles tensed as he came near, but she did not move. She wanted to call out, but she didn’t speak. The wind did all the whispering for her. He was finally close enough to touch. Elisa slowly stood. He reached out with both hands to grab hers. His on bottom, hers on top. His thumbs hugged her hands snugly into his. There was silence between them as trees tried desperately to hold on to the last of their leaves, and groaned as they were unable to do so.

Still holding her hands, he leans in and finally kisses her on the cheek. That was worth the wait. “Hello,” he says softly.

“Hi,” Elisa managed to say. It is hard to speak when your heart is beating in your throat.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long. I know the sun…”

“No. The weather has been very nice.”

“Perhaps for now.” The stream to their right verifies the statement. “Elisa,” he begins as the first raindrops sprinkle Elisa’s forehead, “you mean everything to me.” He kisses her again, this time on the other cheek. “How we even came to be is a mystery to me. Is there nobody more suitable?”

“You are more than suitable. Even my dreams cannot imagine a more perfect man for me.”

“I feel the same as you. It is as if God himself had pity me and sent you to my side. But…” Words were becoming difficult. It is hard to speak when your heart is beating in your throat. “But for reasons that I am even yet to understand, I must leave.” His voice was shaky as he said this; he was barely even able to say such words. Elisa stared, her face blank, her hands held tighter to his as the wind tried to pull them apart. “Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?”

“No,” she says. At least, she thinks she said something.

“I don’t either, love. My own stupidity surprises me. But I am afraid this is how things have to be. I can no longer stay.”

“Oh.” Rain began falling harder now as the clouds opened up to their full strength. Tree branches were getting beaten to the ground, a second stream was worming its way through the middle of the park, wet leaves swirled up around the couple’s faces, lightning blinded them right before thunder deafened them. The swings were thrown about in the wind, the river to the right became muddied, and small pieces of hail swam downstream until they melted away.

He let go of Elisa’s hands and she began backing away, but he put his hands upon her cheeks, his fingers getting tangled in her hair. He stared into her eyes. His eyes screamed “I love you” over and over. Hers cried “don’t leave me!” And just as soon as their eyes grew quiet, he pulled her closer and gave her a kiss that was sweetened by both tears and the rain. And then he was gone. Elisa still stood, kissing the rain. “Kisses in the rain are supposed to be happy,” she thought. Finally, she numbly walked home, accompanied only by a cloud.

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