Martin Han, RDF International School

Rainy weather hit us recently. For the past few days it was falling spontaneously and only today it had stopped. I decided to take a stroll along the streets for being stuck home for so long, also to think about things which did not please me the past few days.

It was still a little cloudy even though it stopped raining, not exactly an ideal weather for a walk. I would prefer it more sunny, and perhaps a mild breeze could be more pleasant. But apparently the weather has its way.

I stopped at the river close to the bridge. The murky water was flowing much faster than usual, like galloping horses, maybe it’s due to the fact of the high rainfall, or maybe I was seeing things.

The waters in front of me reminded me a lot of those in Malaysia where I had lived before. I can recall me fishing with a friend on a lake. It was raining and there was a tarp tied to a tree where we sat under; leaves dangled at both sides with countless white buds, slight rain. Sitting on the benches we would fish, with a cup of warm water, a packet of sunflower seeds, faint sound of rainfall. We sat there for a very long time. The rain passed, the seeds were gone and the water was finished.

Neither of us left.

There was no fish in the bucket when that day came to an end. We left the bucket under the tarp, next to the empty bench where the paper cups and leftover seeds were. Moist leaves hanged over the wet tarp, still drizzling a little. Years passed and I still did not forget that day. It was a fine time of my life.

The bridge faded in the distance, and I brought to mind the friend of mine, thinking of our years in Malaysia. I missed the place, the things, the people. The memories are carved into my soul, almost as if waking from a dream, yet all seem so real.

Soon enough, I reached home. It was almost nighttime, and the faint smell of chicken soup drifted into my nose, but I have no appetite for it. I entered my room and shut the door, thinking of the unpleasant things of the past few days.

The rain was falling again.