you dare ever try asking one of my workers to do
anything like that again. She’s not for sale and
neither am I!” I say, slapping the money down in
front of her. “And now, I think it’s better if you go.
And don’t come back.”
I turn around and go back towards the counter,
where I see Rain with puffy eyes that are full of
tears. She’s waiting for me, triumphant in her
pride. As soon as I get near her she throws her
arms around my neck and kisses my cheek.
“This is the Patrick I’ve always hoped to see. I
knew it was hidden in there somewhere,” she says,
pointing at my heart. “And now,” she lowers her
voice, “go to her.”
Rain is the best person I’ve ever known in my
life. Really, she is the best, the sweetest, the most
sincere person I’ve ever known, both before and
after her terrible accident. She is without any kind
of guile or artifice, and is completely pure and
direct. She looks at you with those big green eyes
and tells you what she needs to and then, if her
words take you apart, she puts you back together
again. She throws reality right in your face, laid
bare and raw, and she’s also honest enough to let
you know when you’re a hopeless asshole.
I smile at her and give her a kiss before going
towards the back room. I can hear Erin in there
sobbing in the distance, even from the outside with
the door closed. I run to her, throw open the door
and find her standing out in the rain, teeth
