Rainy Windows and Other Love Stories
Alissa Snyder
Rainy Windows and Other Love Stories
Copyright 2016 Alissa Snyder
Table of Contents
Rainy Windows
Every City Has a Soul
First Kiss
About the Author
Connect with Alissa Snyder
Rainy Windows
Mike watched the rain droplets roll down the driver’s side window. The small drops beginning at the top slowly joined more droplets, eventually creating one single raindrop to travel down the window. A smile stretched across his face as he remembered the days of riding in the back seat of his parents’ car, choosing raindrops to win in races down the window.
Reclining his seat back, Mike stared further out the window, past the raindrops towards the small blue house on the corner. He watched as lights turned on and off in different
windows, assuming it must be Sarah finishing getting ready. Memories flooded Mike’s mind as he sat, eyes closed, listening to the rain. Images of Sarah running to the car in her shorts and tank tops were his favorite. She was always the most energetic in the summer. Winter was usually the funniest to watch when he would drive to her house to pick her up. She could never make it to the car without slipping on her sidewalk and usually spent the rest of the night laughing at herself.
Mike opened his eyes to check the front door. Still no Sarah. He glanced at the passenger’s seat and picked up a few coffee cups he had stashed on the seat. He always loved seeing her sit there. Around people, she is the quietest person Mike knows, but when she sits in that seat, she could talk for hours. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Mike finally saw movement out of the corner of his eye and he turned to see Sarah close the door and walk towards the car. Her body seemed stiff as she took quick steps and kept her arms crossed at her chest. Concerned, Mike leaned across the car towards the passenger door and popped it open. Without eye contact, Sarah slid inside.
“Hey, are you okay?” Mike asked.
“Can we just drive for a bit,” Sarah said quietly. Mike stared at her for a moment as she remained still in her seat. He finally shrugged and drove off down the road.
The two sat in silence for what seemed like years. Mike couldn’t read her. Her body was clenched up and her arms were still crossed. She watched out the window and sniffed about every five minutes. Mike reached over and placed his hand on her knee. “You can talk to me, you know.” he said. “We haven’t been dating for four years for you to not talk to me when something’s wrong.”
She turned towards Mike, tears streaming down her face. “We’re moving.” Her sniffs became sobs as she buried her face in her hands. Mike watched as the strong women he’s come to know fell apart in the seat next to him. He quickly pulled the car over and took a deep breath, thinking of what to say next.
“Where to?” he asked as he rubbed her back. Her sobs grew harder and Mike leaned back, knowing he probably asked the wrong question. As she calmed down, Sarah wiped the mascara smeared under her eyes and caught her breath.
“California,” she said, still sniffling. “2,237 miles away.”
Mike’s heart sank and questions built up in his head. They talked about their future together: getting married, starting a family, building a house. “My dad got a really good job offer there. It’s a nice neighborhood I guess. And my mom said we could get a dog if we wanted,” she said, trying to fight back more tears. That was the Sarah Mike knew. Even in the worst situation, she always tired to be positive. He sighed. How could I even live without her, he thought. Mike searched solutions. He glanced out the window to watch the droplets again. He saw multiple form together and move down the window, rolling off the car. An idea slowly grew in his mind. They had to be together. There wasn’t another option. They had to do whatever would work.
“Marry me,” Mike said, turning to face Sarah. Her crying stopped and silence filled the car again.
“What?” she whispered.
“Sarah, will you marry me?”
Her eyes grew large as she held her breath. She shifted back in her seat and folded her hands in her lap. Mike was okay with the silence. He wanted her to think this through. It was a big decision. He noticed her eyes light up while she turned to him.
“Yes,” her smile was the biggest he had ever seen it. Mike couldn’t help but let out a laugh of relief as he reached over and hugged her. He held her as she dug her face in his chest and laughed through tears. He grinned as he looked around his car again. The sound of the rain was comforting and calming. He gave Sarah a small squeeze, holding tight to the love of his life. Another memory added to this car, he thought.
Every City Has a Soul
Nothing could capture my attention less than what he was trying to propose to me. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be after 6 years. But, of course, how would I know. I slid my finger across the damp glass, collecting as much liquid as I could to fix the wisps of hair tickling my face. The thick Nevada heat and the gusts of wind on our hotel patio did not agree with my perfectly constructed hair. Maybe I should just go inside and fix it, I thought to myself. Might as well.
Michael shifted forward. “I can tell you’re not paying attention. Did you even hear my question?”
“I’m sorry, dear.” I sighed as I twisted my hair around my finger. That was my nervous tick. Or so I was told. “No. No, I don’t think that is a good idea.” I turned my head towards the fence. Funny, trapped again. Frustrated, Michael stood, wiped the sweat from the back of his neck and flicked it at the small plants surrounding the patio. He stormed off and back into the dingy hotel room. Was he mad because I said no? If he blew all of his money on the first day of gambling, did he really expect me to give him all of mine to win his back? I leaned back in my chair wondering how I ever got to be here, in this relationship, and in this situation. My mind flashed to when I first met Michael in the most normal place I had ever known; our downtown diner. He came in every Thursday at lunch to order a slice of cherry pie. Me being the naive waitress I was, completely bought his “good boy” act. It wasn’t until our honeymoon that I actually saw the real Michael. He planned the whole trip, a hotel in Las Vegas, promised romance, everything I could dream of. I never knew I could spend so much time alone on one trip. No, not because he didn’t like me, but because “ladies shouldn’t be around gamblers”. Now every anniversary, we’re back in this God-forsaken city.
A loud slam propelled me from my day dreaming. I peered through the sliding glass door to see Michael returning with another bag of ice, murmuring to himself and kicking at the floor. I rose from my seat and walked inside. The cold air was like a waterfall, cooling and comforting my skin. The bed squeaked as Michael sat at the end of it, hands cupping his face. That moment was strange. Never had I felt superior in the same room as Michael. And then I realized I had cut off a life source to him: no more money, no more gambling. This was my chance to finally stand up for myself. I’ve always been too scared to tell Michael the things I’ve wanted. Now I had the chance to. I defeated him. Maybe now I can finally say what I’ve had on my mind for the past few days. There had to be more to this life I’m living, and I think I found the answer. I just had to tell Michael. I have to say it now. There might never be another opportunity. Now.
“I want a baby.” I blurted out.
Silence.
I held my breath and eyes wide open. My palms began to pour with sweat as I tried to create a safe way to retract the statement, but my mind was blank with shock. Michael’s head slowly rose from his hands as he stared straight through my hazel eyes, deep into my soul. I was paralyzed.
“A baby?” he asked, this voice rising with his bo
dy. “If you want a baby, you go sleep with another man. I’m not bringing a baby into my life.” He launched for my purse on the night stand next to him and stormed out of the room.
I couldn’t be surprised. I had to have seen that reaction coming, but my body couldn’t keep up with my mind. I fell to my knees in exhaustion, not knowing I had wanted this so much. Tears began to well up in my eyes as I realized I won’t ever have the picket fenced backyard, loving husband and large family I had always wanted. I was trapped in this shallow world of greed and hate. And it’s all because of this city. They say “every city has a soul”, and I think this one stole my husband’s.
