Tim stepped out from under the roof when the rain waned to drizzle.
When he first moved to Streak City any amount of rainfall had cause him to run for cover. Then he bought an umbrella that he carried everywhere. And now finally he didn't even notice drizzling rain and walked through it no differently than the way regular people walked through dry air. He even learned to smoke cigarettes in the drizzle.
It had been last week that Tim quit carrying the umbrella altogether. A particularly bad writing session had convinced Tim he needed a smoke. The thought of nicotine surging through his young yet dirty blood excited him as he made his way out, packing his cigarettes in his hands when the sudden sight of downpour through the window brought him back to reality. The reality that it rained every day in this small section of Streak City. The O-District.
Tim stood outside under the sparse roof covering jutting out in front of the entrance of his boarding house.
He didn't find the cigarette enjoyable. Did he even like smoking anymore or was he a mere addict now? That idea died as soon as it breathed. He told himself he couldn't be addicted since he didn't actually enjoy smoking that much. Instead it was a habit like daily coffee. Tim knew damn well he wasn't addicted to something so simple as tobacco. But there was something more dangerous inside him that had hooked him.
Suddenly a wave of newcomers appeared on the horizon. Tim could tell they were newcomers by their excitable demeanor. The way they pointed at everything together. And most importantly they were all still very scared of the rain. Their optimistic attitude and fear of rain didn't sit well with Tim. It made him feel resentment.
After the wave of newcomers passed by a solo newcomer carrying a large backpack appeared on the opposite end the street. This newcomer was different than any one from the crowd that just ditzed by. Tim could tell that this newcomer was excited, but he didn't get lost in his excitement by pointing at things. It could've just been because he was alone and had nobody to be excited with. He reminded Tim of his own arrival in Streak City a few months back.
Tim finished his cigarette and went back inside. Later that evening he was standing outside in the same place. The previous newcomer was there. He still wore his backpack and was studying a map. He looked to be alternating between calculating how far it would take him to get to his destination and whether the rain would let up or not.
"The rain let's up around this time every night. You should be fine. Wherever it is you're heading"
"Really?"
"You'll need this for the rest of the day though. Some people still take an umbrella at night, but I prefer not to."
"Wow. Thank you!" the newcomer accepted his gift in disbelief. "But won't you need it?"
"Don't worry. I've got more." Tim lied with a smile.
The newcomer got lost examining the umbrella.
"You just got in didn't you?"
"Yes. You been here a while?"
"A decent amount of time. Long enough to have gotten used to the evening drizzle. I don't know if you can ever get used to the daytime downpour though."
"So you mean it rain's that hard everyday?"
"Yes." Tim zipped up his rain coat and let out a deep breath. "Well, see you. I gotta run."
To the newcomer's surprise the mysterious stranger literally ran into the street before he could properly thank him or get a name.
Rain ran through Tim's hair and wicked off his thin rain jacket. He ran with his face tilted towards the sky, allowing water to get caught on his eyelashes and lips. Some of it even got into his eyes and inside his mouth. Tim felt free.
When he first moved to Streak City any amount of rainfall had cause him to run for cover. Then he bought an umbrella that he carried everywhere. And now finally he didn't even notice drizzling rain and walked through it no differently than the way regular people walked through dry air. He even learned to smoke cigarettes in the drizzle.
It had been last week that Tim quit carrying the umbrella altogether. A particularly bad writing session had convinced Tim he needed a smoke. The thought of nicotine surging through his young yet dirty blood excited him as he made his way out, packing his cigarettes in his hands when the sudden sight of downpour through the window brought him back to reality. The reality that it rained every day in this small section of Streak City. The O-District.
Tim stood outside under the sparse roof covering jutting out in front of the entrance of his boarding house.
He didn't find the cigarette enjoyable. Did he even like smoking anymore or was he a mere addict now? That idea died as soon as it breathed. He told himself he couldn't be addicted since he didn't actually enjoy smoking that much. Instead it was a habit like daily coffee. Tim knew damn well he wasn't addicted to something so simple as tobacco. But there was something more dangerous inside him that had hooked him.
Suddenly a wave of newcomers appeared on the horizon. Tim could tell they were newcomers by their excitable demeanor. The way they pointed at everything together. And most importantly they were all still very scared of the rain. Their optimistic attitude and fear of rain didn't sit well with Tim. It made him feel resentment.
After the wave of newcomers passed by a solo newcomer carrying a large backpack appeared on the opposite end the street. This newcomer was different than any one from the crowd that just ditzed by. Tim could tell that this newcomer was excited, but he didn't get lost in his excitement by pointing at things. It could've just been because he was alone and had nobody to be excited with. He reminded Tim of his own arrival in Streak City a few months back.
Tim finished his cigarette and went back inside. Later that evening he was standing outside in the same place. The previous newcomer was there. He still wore his backpack and was studying a map. He looked to be alternating between calculating how far it would take him to get to his destination and whether the rain would let up or not.
"The rain let's up around this time every night. You should be fine. Wherever it is you're heading"
"Really?"
"You'll need this for the rest of the day though. Some people still take an umbrella at night, but I prefer not to."
"Wow. Thank you!" the newcomer accepted his gift in disbelief. "But won't you need it?"
"Don't worry. I've got more." Tim lied with a smile.
The newcomer got lost examining the umbrella.
"You just got in didn't you?"
"Yes. You been here a while?"
"A decent amount of time. Long enough to have gotten used to the evening drizzle. I don't know if you can ever get used to the daytime downpour though."
"So you mean it rain's that hard everyday?"
"Yes." Tim zipped up his rain coat and let out a deep breath. "Well, see you. I gotta run."
To the newcomer's surprise the mysterious stranger literally ran into the street before he could properly thank him or get a name.
Rain ran through Tim's hair and wicked off his thin rain jacket. He ran with his face tilted towards the sky, allowing water to get caught on his eyelashes and lips. Some of it even got into his eyes and inside his mouth. Tim felt free.
