“You mind if I sit? I’m tired from following him around the whole park.” Chanyeol moves his skateboard. Taozi the dog jumps up to sit between them and hopefully get pet by both. The stranger immediately grabs the dog’s plush cheeks, pulling them up in a smile. “I’m babysitting this guy for the week, and he’s been nothing but trouble.”

“He’s cute, though. Doesn’t that make up for it?”

“I used to say that to my own dog all the time. You’re lucky you’re so cute, and I think he knew it, because he’d always have this broken look when he did something bad.” He shrugs and sighs. “I could never stay mad. He was a good boy.”

Dark spots dot the pavement, clustering closer until there’s a steady drizzle.

Man and dog stand, excusing themselves. “If I don’t leave now, I’ll have to carry Taozi home. He hates getting wet.”

Chanyeol loves the rain. He had great fun as a kid running around and jumping in puddles. His mom always got mad when he’d come inside more mud than boy.

He sits for a while longer, just to see if the rain lightens up, but heads to a cafe to wait it out. He’s always prepared with his phone and a notebook to work on his songs. Rain always draws out inspiration.

Half an hour and a melted iced coffee later, he has a rough draft of a story trying to describe the loss felt when someone who could be a friend leaves.