Before The Rain.

It was Tuesday. It was raining. The beach was grey and still in the silence of silver. Meredith wore a yellow raincoat and red wellington boots. She sat alone on the bench, breathing slowly. Hot coffee steamed from her flask, the warmth stung her numb fingers.

She remembered the warmer days. The days of June filled with ice-tea and skipping rope. The days Blanche played her lullabies from her record player. When she played with her hair, soft and slow. When she traced her face and kissed her quietly. She remembered the golden green sparkle of her eyes when the sun danced with her smile and how they used to laugh.

But now the rain.

Meredith watched as a man dressed in black threw a tennis ball into the rolling waves. She watched as a black Labrador bounded after it filled with glee. She smiled a small smile to herself. Later a boy with ginger curls and a beautiful woman walked by. The boy held a blue truck in his hands, his eyes marvelling at its sleek exterior, his mouth chatting happily away to his mother. Meredith watched them pass and wondered if they had even noticed her at all. She waited a while longer. Three teenagers came and sat on the bench next to her. Two boys and a girl. The girl was funny, she made her friends laugh a great deal. She wore purple Dr Martens with orange laces. Meredith thought how she reminder her of Blanche, and when the girl pulled a spliff from her jacket pocket she laughed a little. Very Blanche indeed.

There was a time when days were yellow and smoke was shared. When the sky was warm from the fading sun and Blanche would rest her head upon Meredith’s shoulder as they lay side by side. Her feet were always bare, blue toenails and a green string of beads around her ankle. A time when they feasted on warm cans of beer and peanut butter sandwiches. When all they knew was the sun, their love and laughter. When time seemed to be suspended in her smile. When the nights were filled with stars and the sun woke up with bird song. When this was theirs. When Blanche was here and Meredith hers.

But now, the rain.