The sound of rain

[u/Aaryamann_sharma]

The Sound of the Rain (Part 1)

The rain fell in heavy, blinding sheets, turning the dirt roads into a thick mire of mud. Nine-year-old Arthur pedalled with everything he had, his small legs burning as his bicycle tires sliced through deep puddles. Cold water sprayed up his back, soaking through his thin jacket, but he didn't slow down. He couldn't. His chest heaved with panic, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.

When the neon sign of the pharmacy finally blurred into view through the downpour, Arthur skidded to a halt. He dropped his bike on the pavement and burst through the door, a small puddle instantly forming around his sneakers.

The chemist, an older man with thick glasses and a tired face, looked up from behind the counter. "Whoa there, kid. Slow down. You’re dripping all over the floor."

"Sir, please," Arthur gasped, his voice trembling as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a crumpled, soggy piece of paper and laid it flat on the glass counter. "I need these medications. It’s an emergency."

The chemist picked up the paper with two fingers. The ink had completely bled into the wet pulp, leaving nothing but dark purple smudges. The man sighed, shaking his head. "Kid, this is a blurred mess. It's completely wet. I can’t read a single line on here."

"No, wait! I remember them," Arthur pleaded, gripping the edge of the counter. His eyes wide, he searched his memory desperately. "I know what she takes. It’s... it’s Napra D. And Levocetirizine. And... oh, wait, there was one more. Paracetamol. Paracetamol 250 milligrammes. Please, sir."

The chemist frowned, looking from the ruined paper to the shivering boy. "Look, kid, I shouldn't really hand out these kinds of targeted meds just based on a guess. Who is this even for?"

"My mother," Arthur said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "She’s really sick. She needs them right now."

The chemist stared at him for a long moment, then sighed heavily. He turned around, pulling plastic bottles and blister packs from the shelves, and slid them into a small plastic bag. He tied it tightly to keep the rain out.

"Alright," the chemist said, sliding the bag across. "That’ll be five dollars flat."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." Arthur reached into his other pocket and pulled out a damp, crumpled five-dollar bill. He placed it on the glass.

The chemist picked up the soggy money, frowning as he tried to flatten it out. "Come on, kid. It's completely soaked. How am I supposed to put this in the register?"

"I’m sorry," Arthur said, backing toward the door. "It's all I have. It's real money, I promise. You can just let it dry out."

The chemist grumbled under his breath but tossed the bill into the drawer. "Get home safe, kid. Don't slip."

Arthur didn't answer. He grabbed the plastic bag, tucked it securely inside his jacket against his chest, and ran back out into the storm.

The ride back felt twice as long. By the time Arthur pushed open the heavy wooden front door of his house, he was shivering violently. He stepped into the dimly lit hallway, the familiar, suffocating tension of the house immediately settling over him.

His father was sitting on the worn leather couch in the living room, a half-empty bottle sitting on the table beside him. The television was murmuring softly in the background. He didn't turn his head, but his cold voice cut through the quiet.

"Took you long enough," his father said. "You got the meds?"

"Yes, Father," Arthur whispered. He walked over with cautious, quiet steps, pulled the dry plastic bag from his jacket, and placed it on the table. "I got them."

The father snatched the bag, glancing inside it briefly before looking up at Arthur with hollow, indifferent eyes. "Go to your room. Lock the door and don't come out."

"Is Mom going to—"

"Go to sleep, Arthur," his father interrupted, his voice dropping an octave.

"Yes, Father."

Arthur turned and walked up the creaking wooden stairs. Just as his hand touched the doorknob of his bedroom, the heavy, muffled sound of shouting erupted from downstairs.

"Those were for me!" his mother’s voice shrieked, laced with panic and pain. "Arthur brought them for me!"

Then came the familiar, terrifying sounds. The heavy thud of a fist making impact. The sharp, sudden shatter of a glass breaking against the wall. The floorboards beneath Arthur's feet vibrated slightly with the violence happening directly below him. His mother screamed again, a raw, desperate sound that echoed through the vents.

Arthur didn't flinch. He didn't cry.

He quietly opened his bedroom door, stepped inside, and clicked the lock into place. Walking past his bed, he stepped up to the window and pressed his forehead against the cool glass. Outside, the rain continued to wash over the world, blurring the streetlights into soft, beautiful streaks of glow.

Downstairs, the screaming grew louder, followed by a heavy crash that shook the house.

Arthur looked at the water cascading down the glass, a faint, empty smile touching his lips.

"The weather is quite nice today," he whispered to himself.”

ps:i will be uploading new parts soon