The lack of milk wasn’t the cause of Rachel’s frustration but it didn’t help matters. Pulling her coat collar tighter and huddling under her umbrella she considered the real source of her anxiety.

Nathan had been elusive the past few weeks. His secretiveness made her own angst flare up. Their relationship thus far had been practically perfect. But it had been practically perfect last time too. And then his own insecurities and rage bubbled up to the surface shattering Rachel’s hopes for a happily ever after.

Distracted, Rachel stepped into a deep puddle that overflowed into her low rise rain boots. Icy cold water dribbled down, soaking her sock. She hobbled towards a bus shelter and checked the damage. Pulling the sock off it stretched out, clinging stubbornly. Rachel sighed. Was this yet another sign that she shouldn’t cling so desperately to her wish?

A memory of their last date flew into her mind. It had been so romantic and she’d thought they really connected, sharing intimate details of their childhoods. Well, Rachel had tried. She wasn’t sure what she told Nathan actually happened to her in this reality but she figured he’d never know the difference.

She wringed out what water she could and tugged the sock back in place. The store was just another block; fingers crossed she made it without getting much wetter.

In response the rain seemed to let up a bit. Rachel stood, ready to dart down the street, when a couple walking briskly down the opposite sidewalk caught her eye. Through the clearing rain she noticed the color of the man’s jacket. The bold orange had made her laugh the first time Nathan wore it.

She was about to call out when Nathan’s companion emerged from beside him. Though she had never met her in this reality, Rachel recognized Amanda’s distinct pale blond tresses from their encounters in previous realities. A knot began to grow in her stomach.

The two passed by her position and paused down the street across from Nathan’s apartment. Rachel watched them embrace and then waved good bye. Nathan darted across the street, disappearing into his building and Amanda continued walking down the block.

Tears mingled with rain drops as Rachel considered the implications of what she’d witnessed.

~*~*~

Weather can be a powerful catalyst in writing. Storms, sunny beach days, and days of rain can impact setting, plot development, and mood. This week, use rain as the inspiration for your fiction or creative non-fiction piece.

I’ve also incorporated the words from this week’s 3 Word Wednesday: Cause, Implicate, Stretch

Oh, I have missed the prompts Here’s a scene from my ongoing WIP about Rachel. This would fit in during leap 4, early on.