What it Feels Like

A deep boom rolled across the landscape, echoing off of the hills and buildings alike.  Leaning my head up, I gazed at the sky.  Each moment that passed, the vast tapestry strung upon high turned a deeper and deeper shade of grey until it was black.  Whispy, dancing white clouds twirled and leaped upon the wind, painting the dark backdrop with an ironically beautiful portrait.  The cool wind swept over my face, chilling it despite the hot and humid air about me, sending goose pimples up and down my arms and neck.  Lips curving upwards, I idly closed my eyes, face pointed ever upwards.

Beneath my closed lids, a bright flash of white bit through the thick, black clouds and lapped the ground.  Huffing out a laugh, I knew the best was yet to come.  Only seconds after the white light retreated into the sky, a rumble started low in the distance; more booms, like fireworks, joined into the chorus as the sound traveled fast upon the air, until it was all I could hear.  Goose bumps traveled down my back, involuntarily squirming my legs below me.  Pressing my lips together, a hum only I could hear tickled my chin and cheeks, as anticipation sprung sweat upon my brow.

Then, without warning, a loud and hard slap.  And then another.  The force with which the drops hit my face was so tremendous that each drop held the weight of a water balloon.  Each drop, disintegrating upon impact, released bits of water that rolled down my forehead and nose, drug down to earth by gravity.  Soon, I lost count of the drops that bombarded my face, and as I soaked, hair plastered to my face and neck, the sheet of water thrust from the sky pelted every inch of me, every inch of earth.

Clothes clasped to me, suction cupped to my skin, I opened my mouth to release a laugh that could not be contained.  Not by life, not by the circumstances that drove me to this hilltop, not a thunderstorm.  Losing the weight I had felt, I thrust my arms out to my sides, water cascading off of them, and slowly rose them up.  Whooping out loud, I didn't care who could hear me.  This was my moment.  It was just me and the storm, and I loved it.  Tears erupted from my eyes, but no one would have noticed, they mixed joyously with the rain and ran down my body to join again with the earth, with the stardust.

And if I'm not mistaken, the storm loved the moment, too.

Copyright © 2013 by Erin M. Truesdale

This literary blip inspired by: