Falling
Tracy Seeger
As the night ticked on I could feel myself growing fatter and fatter, and I knew it was only a matter of time until I fell. Above me the moonlight sparkled, below me light of any kind was scarce. I was lucky really. Normally on a night like this I would have been frozen solid, but the temperatures for January this year were unusually high. The moisture rate continued to increase, and I knew my time was growing shorter and shorter. The more swollen I became, the more the desire for a final release increased. I could sense the others near me felt the same, their constant babble only serving to illustrate the point. For some of them this was their first time, and they were understandably nervous and excited. Me, I was fully literate in the whole process. I knew almost to the second when I would be ready. I knew it was nearly time.
And then, at last, the first few began their journey. Slowly at first, and just a few, but then gradually more and more. I could see others nearby leaving, and then finally, it was my turn. With a soft sigh I allowed myself to slip from the cloud, and joined the others on our journey towards the ground. For me, the most exciting part was wondering where I would land. Last time I had hit a fence, and got immense satisfaction from the subsequent slide from the top of the post to the bottom. This time I was heading for a garden. With unspeakable joy I landed on a rose, and felt the leaves crinkle beneath me as I joined some of my brothers. And then it was over. Now the long journey back began, the transformation from raindrop to water vapour by evaporation, until at last I was back in my cloud, ready to begin again.
Copyright © 2009 Tracy Seeger. All rights reserved.