Of Lovers and Rain

I have walked in the rain with a lover
I have felt her huddled up close to me, 
beneath the protection of my arm, 
as we skipped over puddles and sidestepped streams of water 
I have sheltered beneath shop and restaurant awnings with her 
as a torrential downpour temporarily flooded the gutters and drains. 
I have kissed her mouth as separate miniature tributaries beaded and joined on our faces.

I have raced hand in hand with her to find a dry, dripping space 
I have stood looking out to a wild sky with rain pouring and mixing with our laughter as we shouted our love into it.

I have run with her into the house utterly drenched and joyfully removed each others soaking clothes. Warming one another with the friction of skin on skin.

I have walked in the rain with a lover when the heavens opened above us and it didn’t matter.

Today I walked in the rain.

Alone.

And it just felt miserable, wet and cold.