he is gone..

The rain had changed.

Or maybe—

Maria Edwards had.

It didn’t feel magical anymore.

Not like before.

Not like when every drop felt like a secret only she and David shared.

Now—

It just felt… heavy.

Days had passed since everything started to feel strange.

Since people began asking questions.

Since she started noticing the way he hesitated.

But still—

She went back.

To the covered walkway.

Because some part of her believed—

If she waited long enough—

He would be there.

And today—

He was.

“…David.”

Her voice was quiet.

Almost scared.

He stood where he always did.

By the railing.

Looking at the rain.

“…You came.”

He turned to her.

And smiled.

But it was different.

Softer.

Like something fragile.

“…You always do,” he replied.

Maria stepped closer.

Her heart beating faster than it should.

“…I thought you were going to disappear.”

A pause.

“…I am.”

The words hit her like cold rain.

“…No.”

She shook her head quickly.

“You’re here right now. That means you’re not.”

David looked at her.

And this time—

He didn’t avoid it.

“…I don’t belong here, Maria.”

Her chest tightened.

“…I don’t care.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“I don’t care where you belong.”

Silence.

“I just want you here.”

The rain fell harder around them.

David stepped closer.

Close enough that she could feel the warmth she always thought was real.

“…That’s why this hurts,” he said softly.

Maria’s eyes filled with tears.

“…Then don’t go.”

A pause.

“…I don’t get to choose that.”

She hated that answer.

So she did the only thing she could think of—

She chose.

Maria reached for him.

Her fingers trembling slightly.

“…Then I’ll make this moment stay.”

And before fear could stop her—

She kissed him.

Soft.

Warm.

Full of everything she didn’t know how to say.

For a second—

He froze.

Like he wasn’t expecting it.

Like he wasn’t sure if he should exist in this moment.

But then—

He kissed her back.

Gently.

Carefully.

Like he was afraid she might disappear instead.

And for that one moment—

It felt real.

Completely.

Like the world had finally aligned just for them.

Like sunshine had finally touched the rain.

But then—

It started again.

That feeling.

Fading.

Maria felt it through him.

Through the way his hands lost their weight.

Through the way the warmth slipped away.

She pulled back slightly.

Her breath shaking.

“…David…”

He was still close.

But not fully there.

“…I know,” he whispered.

Her tears fell instantly.

“…Don’t go.”

He smiled softly.

Even as he faded.

“…I’m not really leaving.”

She shook her head desperately.

“You are!”

“…Not from you.”

His voice was quieter now.

“…I’ll stay where you keep me.”

Her chest ached.

“…That’s not enough.”

A pause.

“…It has to be.”

She tried to hold onto him.

But her hands passed through nothing.

“…No—”

Her voice broke.

“…Please…”

David looked at her one last time.

No hesitation now.

No distance.

Only love.

“…You made me real,” he said softly.

Her tears blurred everything.

“…So don’t let me disappear completely.”

And then—

He was gone.

Not slowly this time.

Just—

Gone.

Like he had never been there at all.

Only the rain remained.

And Maria.

Standing alone.

Her hands still slightly raised.

As if she could still feel him.

“…Sunshine and rain…”

Her voice trembled.

“…They do meet.”

Just not for long.

The days after felt empty.

Maria stopped going to the walkway.

Stopped looking behind her.

Stopped expecting him to be there.

People noticed.

“…You seem quieter.”

“…Are you okay?”

She always gave the same answer.

“…I’m fine.”

And slowly—

She started to be.

Not completely.

Not perfectly.

But enough.

She laughed sometimes.

Focused in class again.

Talked to her friends.

But on rainy days—

She still paused.

Still looked out the window.

And smiled just a little.

Because even now—

She could remember the way he looked at her.

The way he said her name.

The way he kissed her back.

And that was enough.

Not to forget.

But to move forward.

David never came back.

Not in the way she wanted.

But he never truly left either.

Because some people don’t stay in the world—

They stay in you.

In your thoughts.

In your memories.

In the quiet moments when it rains.

Maria Edwards moved on.

But every time sunshine touched the rain—

She felt it again.

That brief, impossible moment—

Where something unreal

Had once felt completely real.

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