Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

The red cane clacked angrily back and forth against the concrete sidewalk on the bright, sunny day, though she couldn’t see it. Those who knew her could feel the waves of rage, like the heat shimmering from the pavement in the desert. Her guide dog instinctually knew her mood was foul, but of course had no inkling as to the reason as it led her to the front porch, waiting patiently as she struggled for a moment with the keys.

Finally getting inside, she let go of the dog and then flung the cane across the room, her temper boiling over as she let out a deep, throaty yet primal scream. The dog, intelligent enough to know when to stay out of the way, hopped up onto the bed, its ears twitching nervously.

As she collapsed onto the sofa and the tears rolled, the song once again manifested.

Someone told me long ago There’s a calm before the storm I know, it’s been coming for some time

As she wallowed, her misery knowing no bounds, her phone chimed, alerting her to a text message. She pressed the center and the text-to-voice function engaged: “Hey baby, I’m gonna be late tonight, if you are tired--” she clicked the stop button, refusing to listen to more lies, and tossed the phone in the general direction of her cane.

The sound of thunder jolted her a bit.

When it’s over, so they say It’ll rain a sunny day I know, shining down like water

She waited.

No audiobooks. No MasterClass video; audio was her sole interest there. No thoughts of dinner. The computer sat idle. Just the sometimes maddening tick-tock of the clock she never gazed upon.

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain? I wanna know, have your ever seen the rain? Coming down on a sunny day

Hours later, she heard a key turn in the lock, and her anger, which had been simmering, a pot of vile thoughts maintaining a low boil, erupted as he walked in the door with her jumping up to confront him.

“I KNOW!! You bastard! I know that you weren’t at work! I went to your work, and they said you left EARLY! Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think that I couldn’t smell her on you? My 27-year-old pussy all of a sudden isn’t good enough for you, you piece of--” and she was cut off by the sound of a woman’s voice.

“Hi. I’m Caroline. Uh, your boyfriend brought me here so he could show you what he’s been doing the past few months.”