half-heartedly at first

unsure

It drizzled and moped

then overcame its fears and wept out its heart onto the ground

Wet tumbled down the window

rushing, bumping, confused and bruised

The tangle of wetness bit my cheeks as I walked outside

to touch the anxious drops

I rubbed my hand across the pane to hold the hurt

not concerned

about the sting that aching rain would cause

But it wasn’t sharp or angry

I smudged the running streams together

They were soft; the hardness wasn’t real

Rehearsed confidence

vanished

I cupped the clouds’ tears in my hands

Deep in the pool I

recognised my own illusion

Abandoning my sturdy raincoat of pretend

I walked away from the pain,

free and with hope after the storm