The Downpour

The wind shifted as the rain continued to pour down against the abandoned streets of Bellwood. A wind so strong you could hear it scream in your face as it threatened to drag you to the ground. Though most of the residents took precautions after viewing the morning weather report, one lonely girl trudged along through the downpour, hugging her jacket close to her chest and clutching onto her purse for dear life. If there had been anyone around, they would likely think she had just gotten her heart horribly broken as she quickly skulked towards her destination. Unlucky for her, they would be absolutely right in that notion.

The girl shuddered visibly and used one of her soaked sleeves to wipe the tear running down her cheek. This was obviously not the night that she had planned, in her beautiful navy dress and strappy black heels. With her wavy hair blowing furiously around her head, you could see her hurt turn quickly into angry determination as she spun on the spot and marched back in the direction she came from. Walking towards the unforgiving wind now, onlookers may have mistaken her for a model if they took a peak out of the windows of their comfy, dry homes. On she pushed, up one block, up the next, losing her footing now and then on the sleek asphalt but triumphantly holding her composure nonetheless.

She stopped outside a dimly-lit restaurant and peered into the window from the shadows of the street. There he was, the love of her life, finishing his meal as if he was so innocent and admirable. The girl seethed and ran a hand through her hair, debating with herself if he was even worth one more second of her time. She had quickly made her way back to the scene of the crime because a thought had jumped into her mind while constantly wondering what she had done to deserve such a rejection. Believing that her assumption must be correct, she pulled open the glass door and walked inside.

The hostess politely walked up, but the girl just brushed past her and furiously walked up to the man's table. He slowly looked up at her, surprised.

"What are you-" but the man was quickly cut off.

"Who is she? The girl you were cheating on me with. Do I know her?" The girl asked calmly, albeit shaking. A hush instantly fell over the restaurant patrons and several utensils clanked on ceramic plates.

The man set down his knife and fork and folded his hands.

"Why don't you have a seat, you're causing a scene." He rebutted. Making a fool out of her was something he had perfected.

"I will absolutely not. I just want to know how you thought you could 'kindly' end our relationship while conveniently hiding your infidelity. As if I wouldn't put two and two together, as if your 'business meetings' always had to go late and the reason you had the stench of another woman on you is because you hug all your coworkers goodbye afterwards? You really must think I'm an idiot, if that's the case. And well, maybe I am, I believed you loved me anyway, how stupid am I? But I suppose I was just so blinded by my love for you that I couldn't sniff out all of the bullshit you kept sending my way. So I'll ask you one more time. Who is she?"

Pairs of eyes from every table in the room were glued to the scene, with several mouths agape. Even the man couldn't help but widen his eyes at the gumption of this woman drenched in outside's downpour. He sighed and unfolded his now-white knuckles to regain the blood flow.

Clearing his throat, he said, "contrary to what you may believe, I was never unfaithful to you. But I could have been, many times and in a multitude of ways. I must admit it is rather difficult, being seduced by a beautiful coworker and coaxed into staying after hours because she desperately craved my affection. I had to deny her every advance, do you know how hard that is? But I didn't give in to her temptations, so I don't see why you are so pressed about this when it simply does not matter anymore."

As if a spark had landed on kindling, these words, like fire, spread a panicked cacophony of wives and girlfriends questioning their significant others in hushed voices before the men had the chance to brace for impact.

The woman felt like she could not breathe, she was more furious than she had ever been. To think that she had ever loved this man when his view was so twisted and deranged. Though the pit in her stomach grew larger, she took a step closer to the table and bent over it. With all the courage she could muster and in a voice that intended to cut deep and wound, she said:

"I can't believe I ever loved human scum like you. I hope you and her have a lovely relationship while you're burning in hell."

The patrons' attention was back onto the couple as the woman brushed the hair out of her face and stood up straight again. Without making eye contact with a single soul, she slipped past the hostess again and threw the door open, plunging into the downpour once more. This time, she did not shed any tears. She strutted down the street with the face of a statue as the rain mercilessly splashed around her. She did not care where she was headed as long as the man she left behind felt the sting of her words. She no longer had a home to return to, no real shelter from the storm. She was a shell of her former self as she crossed to the next corner and turned toward nowhere.