Rain doesn't ask Question

when we used to make home pull away Some people said rain was sad — but Nora never thought so.

To her, rain was honest . it didn't ask for explanation.

It did not judge.

It just fell–quietly, softly – until the whole world slowed down and breathed a little dipper.

She sat on old wooden bench near the school gate, her gray hoodie clinging to her shoulders, soaked at the edges. Her sketchbook lay open on her lap, a pencil still in her hand, though she hadn't drawn anything in the last fifteen minutes.

Around her, students hurried past under umbrellas, calling out to each other, laughing disappearing one by one, No one noticed her Nora didn't blame them.

She had become used to the quiet. To been invisible.

A drop slide from the tip of her nose. She wiped, it's away not knowing if it has been rain or something. Else.

Then came a voice – soft, familiar.

''You're going to catch a cold, you know that ?

She looked up. Eli stood there, his dark hair damp,

His bag slung lazily over one shoulder, and a slightly worried look on his face. In his hand ‐ her sketchbook. That one she had forgotten in art class that morning.

He held it out without saying more.

Nora blinked." You brought it.....again."

You always forget it when it rains, " he said simply.

She took it from, brushing her fingers against his.

" Thanks "

Eli sat beside her, not minding the rain-soaked bench.

He glanced at the sketchbook on her lap.

" Draw something? "He asked.

Nora hesitated, then flip a page to reveal a rough sketch a small house with broken windows.

A girl stood outside it, tiny and alone, with her arms crossed in the rain.

Elie looked at it for a long moment , you always draw

Her.

She's not me, Nora said quickly.

I didn't say, she was.

There was silence, But after a while Eli spoke again and said. You know rain doesn't ask questions but" I do ".

She looked surprised at him,

He struggled, smiling just a little. "Not now. Not today, just .... when you're ready.

The final bell rank in the distance .Eli stood up and offered her hand.

" Come on," he said" do not sit in the storm forever."

Nora stared at his hand , then took it.

They walk together along narrow Road leading away from the school , their steps low .

Eli opened his umbrella and held between them.

Nora did not say much, but she did not pull away either,The Silence between them wasn't uncomfortable.

Eli said "Do you remember when we used to walk home together" in 5th grade ? He asked.

Nora glanced sideways. "You mean when you used to Splash puddle just to get me wet "?

He laughs. Guilty. You used to yell at me.

" You ruined two of my notebooks ".

Eli looked at her playfully." Worth it."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips first in days.

When they reached her street, she paused." Thanks for walking with me ".

Eli gave her small wave, backing away slowly.

"Anytime ". Hey don't forget your sketchbook tomorrow.

"I won't "

"You will "

She didn't deny it.

Her house were quite when she stepped in. Too quiet.

The kind that hummed with thing left unsaid.

Nora climbed the stairs to her room and shut the door behind her. The rain were still falling outside, tapping gently on the windowpane like it has followed her.

She pulled out her damp hoodie, dried her hair with towel. Stayed by the window. Her sketchbook rested on the desk, unopened for now.

Outside, everything was blurred of gray and blue.

She stared out for while, listening to the sound of rain.it didn't ask where were her parents, it didn't wonder why was the house cold.it didn't care that her dinner would probably be something that she made alone.

The rain just stayed.

She open her sketchbook again, flipping to a fresh page.

Her pencil hovered for moment then moved.

This time she drew something different. A small bench, two fingers. One sitting, one standing, Both slightly blurred in rain–clearly not alone.

She looked at it, and for the first time in a long time.

It didn't feel just like sketch.

It felt like something real.

Like maybe, just maybe she wasn't invisible after all.

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