I have an umbrella, but it's no use against the rain, keeping only the top of my head dry. The street is mostly deserted and the figures rushing past, into doors, cars, down other streets, don't seem to notice each other, including me. As I stroll south, a block or so away, a man in a hooded cloth anorak comes into view, and he's strolling in the same unhurried manner. Maybe he too has given up the resistance, and is caving to the pleasures and punishment of the elements.
I watch him with directionless longing gripping my mind, and he sees me. He has a look of recognition on his face. I know him vaguely, but please can he be happy to see me? Could he please just see me as being same?
I smile the pained smile of a wet, breathless girl, and he answers the assured smile of a man better prepared against the elements. Will he judge my comparatively unfortunate state? Or will he see my exposedness happily?
His face softens with playful pity, and in a different life I might have been too proud to plead with my joy, but now I ask him wordlessly to take me in. And he crosses the street to meet me. I breathe relief. He hums assertion and warmth.
"I know you," I say.
"Yes you do," he answers.
I extend my umbrella to share it with him, and he pushes it away, "You keep your umbrella." He smiles, I doe-eye at him, and resignedly smile back. He hooks my arm with his and turns me around easily, and I back track. Where, he wants to know, was I just heading?
Truly nowhere.
He nods shrewdly, and I offer that I was looking for anything. He says I've found it.
We walk closer together. If he's unnerved by any of this, it doesn't show. If I am, and I am, I'm fairly certain it does.
We walk one block trying to talk, but the cool rain is ravaging my voice into breathlessness. He is fine. He pulls me closer still. The next block, we just breathe, match steps, fit together, anticipate.
We cross the street again to his apartment house. He unlocks the door, I fight my umbrella down, he takes it, holds the door open for me and I pass through. He says quietly, "this way."
I follow, every move timid, but bold in making them at all. He moves fluidly, assured of his upper hand, his territory, his very assuredness. His eyes reply softness to my micro-fits of worried or apologetic movement.
There is love. Love to me, curiosity to us both, concealment by him. His base intentions on hold until further inspection.
We walk the steps to his door, he let's me in, and I step through the door and follow his instructions and accept them as welcoming. The game changes here.