The pitter-pattering sound of rain against the roof was music to her ears. Every drop felt in sync with the beat of her heart.
It's raining outside, and I feel blue. I'm missing you here, and you're nowhere near, my love.
A sigh escaped from her lips. Athena had lost count of how many times she had that very same thought cross her mind today.
Athena has always loved the rain. She loved the gloomy feel and the chilly atmosphere whenever it rained. When she was younger, she would always wrap herself up in one of her coziest sweaters and curl up on her bed with a book and a cup of hot cocoa on her bedside table.
But that was years ago.
That thought sent a pang through her heart. She closed her eyes as she let a number of emotions wash through her and just let herself feel before opening her eyes.
Athena was currently leaning on her kitchen counter, holding a cup of coffee, her gaze drawn outside where the kids were having the time of their lives as they ran around chasing each other and jumping on the puddle, the water splashing and landing on themselves. The sound of their laughter and the smiles on their faces made a smile appear on her lips.
She took a sip of her coffee as her eyes darted to the skies.
It looks like the rain will be letting up soon.Athena thought to herself as she watched the sun begin to shine while the rain gradually slowed to a drizzle.
The weather couldn't possibly make up its mind as the sun was shining through, its yellow rays adding a glistening effect to the playful splash the children were making outside. Hearing their laughter and seeing the smiles on their faces was like a balm to her heart and soul.
A moment later, one of the children turned in her direction and waved, making the rest of the children look and wave at her as well. Athena flashed a big smile as she placed her coffee on the counter and went out to the porch just as they all came running towards her. The moment she got outside, Athena found her arms full of three drenched children whose arms all circled her waist.
"Hey, babies," she greeted, a faint chuckle escaping her lips as she hugged them back, a tear running down her cheek treacherously.
As she gazed up at the sky, clear skies welcomed her, as if on cue, as the sun shone brightly among the four of them. Athena figured the kids must have done the same when they started tugging on her shirt as they exclaimed.
"Mom! Mom! Dad can see us now! The dark clouds are gone!"
Athena looked down at their kids and could not help the smile that appeared on her face as she nodded at their proclamation. A sigh left her lips as she slowly looked back up at the sky, her fingers lightly playing with the rings on her finger.
Her gaze drifted back to the kids still in her arms, all of whom had their awe-filled gazes staring up at the sky as they chattered among themselves, a finger pointing up at the sky occasionally.
Athena silently took this time to look at each of their kids. Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes as she took note of all their features, features that told her that she was wrong for ever thinking that he was nowhere near because he always had been.
He was in the way their eldest would laugh, in the way their middle-child would scrunch up her face, and he was in the way their youngest's face would light up. He was in all three of their kids, who were all so uncannily like him one way or another.
Athena swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat at the thought and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, her arms tightening around them.
I'm missing you here, my love.
She glanced at the kids just in time as all three of them looked back at her with those familiar coffee-colored eyes-his eyes-making her heart skip a beat.
We all are.
