Dont Walk in the Rain (short story)

Sat down at my desk, the hastening pitter patter of what I could only recognise as rain battered against my window, beckoning my attention. I stood up and watched as the rain gradually progressed from a gentle drizzle to heavy showers. Although I was indoors, I could practically smell the damp soil and fresh, earthy smell left behind by the downpour. My patience reaching its end, I made my way to the door and put my boots on, struggling to squeeze my feet into the tight rubber, and stepped outside.

I was hit with the scents that I had anticipated, much more vivid than I imagined. The rain came pelting down upon my face, trickling into my eyes and soaking my hair and clothes. Although by regular standards I should have been uncomfortable, instead, I experienced a unique euphoria, and became completely numb to the cold. My face took on a child-like grin, and I skipped through the rainfall, spinning in circles, paying no mind to how much time had passed.

It was only after however-so-long, that I noticed the apartments around me all had their lights on, although dawn was still yet to come. The bright, vivid yellow lights of the apartments stood out painfully against the chilling blue of the sky. They were so bright, they seemed to encompass me like a deer fixated in the presence of headlights. Even the raindrops had taken on the yellow tint. I couldn't help feeling like I had done something wrong, although I knew I hadn’t, but I felt as if the apartment lights were trying to pressure an answer from me. 

Then, I heard the squelching of boots from behind me, and turned to see the figure of a tall man wearing a green jumpsuit and matching hat, carrying a flashlight, with two other figures following behind him. The figures trailing behind him weren’t describable as either male or female, and wore hoods to disguise their identity. Once the man reached me, I said to him, “Is something wrong?” He then proceeded to tell me, “You aren't allowed to walk in the rain.” I replied, “Oh… Is that right?” He continued, “The rules for rain-related recreation and activities in this area as of yesterday, per Jurisdiction 467GH are as follows; no frolicking, no walking, no jogging, no running, no skipping, no spinning, no singing, no whistling, no jumping and no dancing. And we’ve received complaints that you’ve broken about all of these rules.”

I took a second to process the list and responded, “I didn’t know.. I promise I won't do it again then.” The man looked at me and in an apathetic tone, said “Well, yeah… That's not how it works. You’ve exhausted all of your chances to habilitate into society, so you’re done now.” I stared at him perplexed, as he smacked the flashlight against his palm with a bored look. “Hold on, what do you mean?”, I asked him. He laughed, “We’re taking you away now so you don’t wake up your neighbours playing in the rain anymore.”

My mouth hung open in horror, but before I could inquire any further, one of the people by his sides stepped forwards, swinging a metal mat towards me until it reached in between my eyes. I staggered backwards, with a throbbing echoing through my head, and fell onto my back, hitting my head on the ground behind me. I gazed into the clouds, watching the downpour, and began to wonder how the rain made it all the way down here from the sky, until my consciousness soon faded out.