He offered her his umbrella, tilting it shyly above her head. She laughed, a million twinkling bells, saying she loved the rain.

So, they walked, drenched, droplets clinging to flowing silhouettes. Shoulders brushing, sneakers splashing through puddles, laughter and the occasional sneeze punctuated the air. Every streetlight seemed to glow with a tender light, every raindrop a gentle caress.

They didn’t say it out loud, but both of them- they’d remember that walk long after they were in the close comfort of their homes.

When they turned onto her street, she glanced at him to smile- and froze.

A blurred figure stood, the edges of his coat dissolving rapidly.

She blinked.

“Drip-drip-drip”, went the rain.

Steadily, slowly, she stepped onto the empty pavement where he’d been a few seconds ago.

“Hey…?”, her voice caught in confusion. She spun, realising how isolated she was- not a soul for miles that she could see, and the streetlights now cast eerie shadows, silent spectators to the echo of her own voice.

She ran forward, scared now. Heart hammering, she peered into the puddles, but they only blinked back with a reflection of her frightened face.

The only thing that remained was the umbrella, still dripping, spinning slowly on the wet asphalt.

Signing off…