A Flower in the Rain

"Risa, wait up!"

I did, not walking again until he caught up to me, matching his stride with mine.

"So, how do you think-"

I gasped as I saw it, cutting him off.

"Look at that iris...it's so beautiful!" I exclaimed.

"You like flowers?" Col asked me.

I nodded slowly, still mesmerized by its colors. The iris was a rich blend of purple, blue and red that mixed so naturally and so wonderfully-I could barely comprehend it. Reluctantly, I pulled my eyes away from it.

Strangely, Col was quiet for the rest of the time that we walked together.

The next day was Valentine's Day.

As I walked to school that morning, I felt a small tap on my skin, so light that I almost missed it. Then came another, and another. Of course it was raining today.

All throughout the day there were valentines and romantic gestures all about, regardless.

After an eventful couple of hours, I waited in the cascading rain for Col, so that we could walk together. Minutes passed, but he never arrived.

So I went home.

I had received a valentine, and nothing bad had happened at school, so what was the matter?

It felt like I was waiting for something.

With a sigh, I went downstairs to the kitchen. I smiled faintly as I realized that I had forgotten to take off my rain-soaked clothes.

When I reached to turn the pantry doorknob, I heard a noise - someone knocking on the door. So I went to open it.

There, on the doorstep, was the same iris that I had gazed upon yesterday, dry and even more beautiful than I had remembered.

I smiled, this time completely, and picked up my flower.