He had a perfect life. He had the perfect education.
He had nice parents.
Wealth. Women. Fame.
Everything.
But for certain, there was a void in his heart nothing could ever fill.
And he'd always thought about that when things were settled down.
When his life wasn't in a wreck, or when he wasn't partying it up with anyone.
He felt the pain.
He knew himself it did not make sense.
If having a girlfriend was the problem, it would make even less sense.
Because he had dated more than he could count.
So why did his heart hurt so badly?
Why?
It was raining that day after business hours.
Everyone had left earlier, leaving him behind to do all the work.
He mumbled curses as we wrote furiously on the lined papers,
contracts, wills, ..
As soon as he was done, he arched his back, taking in the smell of the rain coming from his window.
It reminded him of his mother. Who would tuck him safely into bed every night it rained when he was young.
And his father, who would do anything to make sure that he would not have a runny nose the next morning.
And his friends, who never got tired of his jokes and company.
Even back then,
when life was so perfect, he felt empty inside all the time.
He searched and long for the fulfillment,
but it never came to sight.
He sighed. Getting his coat and briefcase, he left his office, took the elevator down to the lobby, and to the exit of the damned building he worked in for 6 years.
He'd forgotten his umbrella this morning.
He looked up at the dark night sky ,
" Even you hate me?" he asked jokingly.
he shook his head unbelievably, then stepped out into the rain.
As he waited impatiently for a taxi, he felt the rain soaking his hair,
his coat, his briefcase, his shirt...
And suddenly, it was dry.
He listened carefully to the sound of his surroundings,
it was clearly still raining.
So why had he not soak even further?
"What are you doing out here?" a sweet voice called under the loud spattering of raindrops.
He turned to look at the lady.
She was a head shorter than he was, she was cute, petite, she had long brown curled hair, and a pair of the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
She cocked her head to the right,
then suddenly, she shove the umbrella into his free hand.
She felt familiar, like he's seen her somewhere, but he could not recall..
She took a portable umbrella out from her handbag
"I have another one," she smiled " You can have that, I have plenty at my house"
She waved for a coming taxi to stop.
Then she gestured for him to enter.
" Go on" she insisted " I have my own ride"
He glanced briefly at the pink and purple umbrella she handed to him.
He felt his tongue go numb, he could not utter a single word.
Not even a simple 'thank you'
After he got in the taxi,
he gave the driver directions, then leaned back on the seat.
he watched her back from the rearview mirror.
As her shadow grew smaller and smaller, then gone,
he thought of the many girls he had gone out with.
Surely, she wasn't one of them.
Then he looked again at the umbrella that the lady so casually handed to him.
He thought about it over and over.
Then he remembered.
Back in elementary school.
3rd grade.
She was his first crush.