DANCE IN THE RAIN

Tonight felt the air was different – fierce and criticised as if the world was trying to hold your breath. The sky had thick, deep grey clouds above Enugu, like slow moving waves. Jyoti was able to smell the rain before it arrived. It had a damp earth scent and a cold breeze that weaved through the streets.

She was standing in front of the small guesthouse she and her father had been staying and watching as the wind stirred up the wood. Somewhere in the distance thunder.

It will rain tonight.

And she was ready.

Chaos Invitation

Your mobile phone is bustling in your pocket. She pulled out to see a message from Daniel. Daniel:

Get ready. Sky is trying to organize the show.

Jyoti smirked and shook his head before repliing.

Jyoti:

Where are you?

Daniel: Meet me at the market. Hurry before it rains.

She looked back at the guesthouse. Her father was still inside, reading with my thoughts, getting lost or lost. He didn't ask much about her whereabouts as she was in Enugu and she wasn't sure if he was familiar with her or because he died of his own grief to care for it.

In any case, she had no intention of staying tonight.

In

Sneakers, she set out with her mother's list in her pocket. Storm reached the market, the wind was absorbed and sent loose wrappers and dust down the street. The providers were rushing together and planning their own stands, while others simply stood and looked at the sky.

Daniel was waiting for her at the fruit stand.

"You did that," he said as she approached. "I told you I would do that."

He pointed to the dark sky. "We're not long. It'll pour every second now.

" Jyoti felt the thrill of expectation through her. "Good. Daniel raised his eyebrows. "So do you mean that really seriously? Dance in the rain?"

She nodded. "It's on the list. And I won't leave Enugu until I do everything on it.

"

He studied for a while then smiled. "Now, Jyoti. Let's get wet." 444 The first raindrops landed on her nose.

Then another.

and others.

The sky opened within seconds.

Symphony of Rain

The rain quickly fell violently, pounding it towards the roof of the market roof, spraying it on the sidewalks, washing the dust out of the air. Jyoti grabbed the air as the cold water hit her skin and drank it immediately.

Daniel left his arm and emptyed his face. "Now," he said, "You know you're alive."

Jyoti seed for a while before he followed the lead. She closed her eyes, rain penetrating her clothes, sprinting through her hair, dripping down her cheeks. However, this time my tears were not filled with sorrow.

Free.

Daniel suddenly packed his hand and pulled it outside. "Come on, Jyoti. Dance!

" She laughed. Just move.

" And she did that.

They stretched out their arms and turned under the rain. She engraved on the puddles, and felt the water blow on her legs. She let go of it all – her sadness, her pain, her hesitation – and at that moment, this boy and the storm and the rain fell.

Daniel joined her not only innocent and wild energy, but without any care.

They danced like children.

Like a fool.

Like someone who had nothing to lose.

And for the first time in a long time, Jyoti felt zero gravity.

My memory repeats

. She turned around under the rain, laughing from her chest, and memories emerged – she hadn't thought of it in years.

She was six years old and stood in front of her house in Lagos. The rain came unexpectedly, washing away the neighborhood with thick leaves. Veronica was outside and took care of the small garden she kept from the veranda.

Jyoti watched her mother heading towards the sky. Then, without warning, Veronica grabbed Jyoti's hand and pulled her in the rain.

"But mom, I'm getting wet!" Young Jyoty protested with laughter.

Her mother only laughed. "Now let's get wet."

They danced like this in the rain, feeling that the world was sweeping over them, not tormented by the storm.

Her mother believed in living at this time.

Jyoti had forgotten how it felt.

So far.

Common Secret

The rain finally softened and disappeared into a slight drizzle. The street was empty, except for some stray dogs and some market dealers who looked under the provisional accommodations among the provisional accommodations.

Jyoti and Daniel broke together on the wet sidewalk, breathlessly, their clothes took responsibility for their skin.

"The", Daniel said in a gasp, "It was the best thing I've done all year."

Jyoti laughed and wiped the rain from her face. "Me too."

They sat there for a while, hearing the rain, which was occasionally far away.

Then Daniel spoke calmly this time. "So... why bucket list?"

Jyoti hesitated.

She had not told anyone the perfect truth – even her father.

But something about the night about Daniel made her feel safe.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled list. "It was my mother," she finally said. "She doesn't have to finish it."

Daniel said nothing, just waited. "She passed away a few months ago," Jyoty continued, chasing ink onto the paper. "And I think... I don't know. I just felt that I had to finish it for her.

"

Daniel's expression was indecipherable when she looked up, but there was no sympathy in his eyes, just to understand. "Okay," he said quietly.

Jyoti tended to have a head. "Are you doing it?"

He nodded. "I lost my sister last year."

Your breathing is pulled. "Oh."

"I was only 18 years old," he continued. "I was sick for a long time. When she was finished, I felt like the whole world... stopped. Why didn't it make any sense?

" Jyoti swallowed hard. "Yes. I know this feeling." "For a while, I somehow drove myself. I didn't know where to go. Then one day I decided that I would not swallow myself out of sadness. She wouldn't have wanted it.

" Jyoti felt a lump in her neck.

"so," Daniel said. "Make all thin"

Daniel smirked and tweaked his shoulders. "Well, I didn't leave you behind anyway.

Maybe she wasn't alone. Jyoti stared at him, but inevitably about how meaningful these words mean.

She nodded slowly.

"I'm Will."

A new beginning

The rain stopped completely, and the streets sparkled under the weak exterior of the streetlights. Jyoty and Daniel finally stood up and extended their painful limbs.

"Well," Daniel said, adding her list, "What's next?"

Jyoti developed the paper and scanned the following articles.

A smile tugs against her lips.

"Singing in front of many."

Daniel groaned at this. "Oh, man. This will be fun.

" Jyoti laughed. "Maybe for you." For me? Not that much.

" He began to warm these vocal cords.

And for the first time in a long time, she was looking forward to what came next.