Rain

Have you ever been in so much pain? Have you ever cried so hard? So hard you thought that you're eyes are too dry to form tears again?

I have been spending my summer cooped inside the house because the clouds never cease to pour. I want to go out for a stroll. I want to meet with my friends. I want to play with my dog. I want to swim. I want to do things outside.

It would rain every afternoon. Sometimes it rains so hard I can't even go out to buy load. Now it rained all day. Sigh. I don't know but aren't the clouds also too dry to form raindrops? How much in pain are they?

It makes me feel cold, so cold that even a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate can't overcome. But it's good that it rains too. It cleanses the earth. It washes away the dirt. It satisfies the parched. It brings life.

Tears, however, maintain the moisture in the eyes, hydrate membranes, and keep it clean using lysozymes. It also makes people feel better. Why? Because when we cry, we eliminate hormones associated with stress.

When the sun comes out after a shower, its rays hit the raindrops creating magnificent rainbows. So the next time you cry, you should show something magnificent after.

15 Days After the Ides of March

The story is typical. I just wanted to uhh...write.

On the dawn of the 30^th day of the summer, there slumbered a young princess who seemed to be having a dream. A very bad dream. Wrapped in her silk sheets, the princess lied completely still. She was making hushed noises. She was whimpering. The young princess looked pitiful. Someone must wake her and tell her that she had just had a bad dream. But fortune did not favor the princess; no one came to wake her.

The princess remained wrapped, still, and whimpering for about 6 hours. No dream had been recorded that long during the entire century. In fact, no one could actually dream that long. Alas! I was right. The princess had not been sleeping at all. She sat on her bed and continued to whimper. Then she stopped and lied on her bed. She stared blankly at the chandelier that hung above her. And tears started to fall again. The same things happened over and over.

The princess closed her eyes and allowed her memories rush into mind.

"Mom, I have been waiting for you and dad. How was the trip?"

"It was better than anything you can imagine, dear. Your father loved the village so much he wanted to stay there for a while."

"How long is that? I'm going to miss him."

"We don't know. He'll be back, I promise. Why don't you give mom a hug?"

##

"Mom, I can't sleep. I really miss dad. Did he send something, like letters or some sort?"

"I'm sorry, my dear, he did not. Come, I'll sing you a lullaby."

##

"Honey, why do you look so lonely?"

"I heard the servants talking about dad. They said that he was killed! Is that true, mom? Even the people in the kitchen and the guards are talking about it. Was dad killed?"

"Your dad? Killed? How could you believe such nonsense? Your father is a very good warrior."

"But they said--"

"Hush, love. You know how rumors go around the palace. Your father is in a very good condition. He will be back."

"If you said so, mom."

##

"Your dad is dead. Why can't you accept that? Everyone has been talking about it since your mom arrived."

"Believe whichever; I have no right against that. I trust my mom. She can't lie to me."

"Is it always 'because she's my mom'? You believe her because she said so, because she's your mom. Why don't you confront her about it?"

"I already did that but, okay."

##

"Mom?"

"Yes, dearest?"

"Do you have something to talk to me about? Something to tell? Something I really need to know?"

"Well, yes. Absolutely. I love you, honey. Now, off to bed."

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Do you want to talk about other things?"

"..."

"Goodness! Those rumors are bothering you again, aren't they? Haven't we talked about this already? "

"Mom, should I ask you one last time just so you won't tell me that I did not give time to hear you?"

"Look, there is something you should know."

"I could have guessed so."

"Your father, he's dead. Fifteen days after the Ides of March, I did it; I poisoned him. It was my fault, I'm so sorry. It's just that it happened so long ago and I don't know. I thought of not telling you yet."

"You--"

"Look, I was going to tell you. In time. I was just looking for the right time like, when your uncle and I get married tomorrow. I wanted you to be happy. And you love your uncle, don't you?"

"Yes, I do love my uncle."

"We are terribly sorry."

More tears rolled from the young princess' eyes. I wish that the princess was, indeed, just having a bad dream. About a month after her father's death, it was only then that the princess finally learned of her father's fate.