All the strength in my knees left, causing me to buckle and collapse onto the wet sidewalk. My mind couldn't process this. Everything we had.. everything we had together... all the memories... suddenly, it all felt fake. All if it turned into an illusion. A dream. That's all we were.
I turned my face up to the grey sky. "You know you're sad when the skies cry with you." I had read that somewhere. I thought as the raindrops hit my face. Slowly, they began in meager drips, but soon, they were in a constant stream.
The only thing I could think of was that I had to hide. I needed a small corner, or a dark room. Somewhere where no one would find me. I needed an escape. He used to be my escape, my haven, but when he turned his back on me, there was no where for me to go. I was all alone once more.
"Hey, are you alright?" A concerned voice said. "You'll catch a cold if you stay like that."
"Who..." I looked at him. He was a stranger. And yet... a kind one. He held his umbrella over me, protecting me. His soft grey eyes showed no malice or ulterior motive for helping me. Maybe... he was just being nice.
"Here, let me help you up." He extended his warm hand with a smile.
"Thanks..." I said emotionlessly as I took it.
"No problem." He smiled again and brushed some light brown bangs out of the way of his professional-looking glasses. "My name is Aiden Sereno. And you are?"
I remained silent. I didn't want to get hurt again. Especially at the hands of some sweet-talking stranger. Even though, getting hurt by someone close sure sucks too...
"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to." He said. "I completely understand. You just got dumped, didn't you?" He asked innocently. "I saw you crying. Man, that guy sure was cold. Leaving a girl like that out in the rain. If I had a girl like you," He drew me closer to him. "I'd never want to let her go."
I never wanted to get hurt, so I built up walls. If that's so... then what was it about him... that made me want to tear them down again?
"You only just met me though." I said, returning to my senses and pushing him away. "How can you say things like that?" Even though I pushed him away, I had this overbearing feeling of wanting him to hold me again.
"It's because I just met you that I can say things like 'that'." Aiden took my hand and led me under an overhang to keep us dry. "And further more, we technically haven't met, since you haven't told me your name."
After a pause, I gave in. "It's Alazne. Alazne Hatten."
"Alazne... beautiful name. And very fitting." Aiden wrapped his free arm around my waist. "What does it mean?"
"What does what mean?" Confused, I tilted my head back to look him in the eyes.
"Hey, you!" Oh, no. Not that voice. Not his voice. It was him. It was the one who left me. "What do you think you're doing with my girl, huh!?" He came running toward us, clearly enraged. But why was he still calling me "his" when we just broke up?
"You're girl?" Aiden held me tighter. "If I recall, you were the one to break up with her. That means that she isn't yours anymore."
The sheer passion in Aiden's voice shocked both me and my ex. Aiden was determined to keep me in his arms and close to him, and he wasn't about to let anyone get in his way.
"Wh-What the hell, man? You only just met that slut-"
"SHUT UP!" Aiden retaliated, glaring full-force at him. "Don't you DARE call Alazne a slut! You came to 'claim' her again, yet you insult her in the crudest of ways?! I'm beginning to wonder what he saw in a jackass like you."
"Look, dude. I don't know who you are, but Alazne is-"
"Alazne is mine now." Aiden fiercely cut my ex off. "So I suggest you back off before I resort to more violent measures to keep your filthy hands off of her."
With one final rude gesture involving his middle finger, my ex turned and ran back out into the storm.
"Well, that was less than pleasurable." Aiden said after a moment. "I can't believe he said that to you. What an ass."
"Aiden... Did you really mean what you said?" Timidly, I placed my trembling hand on top of his. "I always seem to be getting hurt because I believe in people easily. That and I fall in love easily. I don't want to get hurt." In a quieter tone, I added one last thought. "Not again... Never again..."
"I don't know what you've been through, but I promise you," Aiden turned his hand around and gently held mine. "If you become mine, I will never let you fall. I may not know you very well, but I'll get to know you better. Better than anyone else."
"...Pinky swear?" I held up my pinky finger for him. It was a childish request, but it felt right somehow.
With a slight smile, he wrapped his finger around mine.
"I swear." Aiden looked up at the sky. "Look, Alazne. It's a rainbow."
Sure enough, the sky had cleared up, the clouds were gone, and there was a bright rainbow across the sky. Just seeing that colorful beacon of light gave me hope that maybe, all it took to be happy again was just a little sadness. After all, don't you need rain to have a rainbow?
