A vision seeps through my memory. Vague and swimming away like a fish, just barely in my grasp.

No it was not a painful recollection but one that voluntarily lingered in my thoughts. The flashbacks here and there brought me to such curiosity that I found myself searching for more.  

It all started with a dream.

Such a powerful dream. Even if dreams were easily forgotten, this one burned like a fire...
 

I was looking out the windows of the coffee shop. The rain seemed to have been pouring heavily. People often mistake rain as an omen but to me those droplets come down with a purpose; to signify a new beginning.

 My shift over the counter was nearly ending and I could hardly wait. I stayed still, continuously watching the clock. Until finally, It was my turn to go home.

"My shift is over! I'm leaving!" I called out to my coworkers as I hopped over the counter then tossed my apron to the side and left out the doors. I regularly commuted from the coffee shop to my apartment. And only then, I realized that I was unprepared.

Just my luck. I thought.

I stayed under the roof thinking about how I'd get home without getting wet, clearly it was impossible. I waited, in hopes that the rain would subside.

I heard the door of the coffee shop close and out came a pale skinned guy with short red hair, dressed in a blue striped sweater. That was the first time I've ever seen him. But it wasn't the last...  

He exited the coffee shop and sheltered himself under the same awning. It was until he held out his umbrella just in my reach that I noticed he came to stand next to me. Such a kind gesture yet I rejected the man's offer.

"I'm fine." I told him but he simply looked at me and smiled.

"I think you need this more than I do." He said seeing that all I had on was my navy blue V-neck, a pair of dark blue jeans and some worn out sneakers.

"Look, the rain isn't going to hurt me" I said. He was still holding out the umbrella. "Thanks anyway." I told him one last time before walking off into the rain without looking back at the man I left behind.

People watched as I strolled down the sidewalks in the pouring rain. They looked at me from their cars or behind the windows of shops that I passed.

People with umbrellas had their remarks, crazy depressed suicidal, I heard them all.

What they saw was a girl drenching herself in the rain, it was quite understandable.  I ignored everything around me and kept my eyes solely on the path ahead. Just one more mile and I'll be out of these wet shoes.

Suddenly, it became a hassle to go further because my shoulders grew heavy, slowing me down even more. My eyes were rolling back but I fought to keep my consciousness. I was swaying effortlessly. In no time I lost my balance and began to fall back.

I closed my eyes awaiting the painful impact that never arrived.

Weird.

With the strength that I had left, I managed to open an eye only to be face to face with an angel. The man's face was flawless and porcelain like and his hair had that familiar red tone to it. He was unreal. He held a black umbrella over us with one hand and he supported my back with the other.

"Am I dreaming?" I asked, out of breath.

 He chuckled and shook his head then said,

"Let's get you out of here."