Setting

I quickened my pace as I noticed the heavy clouds moving towards me. Until now, the day had been picture-perfect but the sky was starting to darken from sapphire blue to gravel grey. The autumn wind nipped gently at my skin causing me to tightly wind my cashmere muffler around my neck. The first splatter of rain hit me just as I crossed the intersection, slowly starting to pick up as I hurried towards the rendezvous point. Around me, people ran helter-skelter for cover, a colourful array of umbrellas sprouting open as the clouds spat out torrents of water. The car rooftops danced with spray, the faint musical chime escalating into a crescendo. I narrowly dodged a splash of water as a car screeched past me and ducked into a dingy alleyway.

I positioned myself under the dilapidated awnings of a closed cafe and waited, slowly catching my breath. I couldn’t help but thank the heavens for the sudden onslaught of rain. It gave me the much needed anonymity as everyone hustled to get out of the way, thankfully ignoring my presence. I was determined to draw as little attention as possible to myself, especially considering the part of town I was in today.

I hadn’t been here in months, but the surroundings seemed to have worsened with time, negligence written all over the decaying façade. The grimy buildings on either side stood like aging sentinels with crumbling paint and shattered windows that had been haphazardly patched with cardboard. The street was seedy with litter, the humid wind bringing with it the stench of overheated drains.

A faint movement in the distance caught my attention and suddenly I saw him, huddled under a jutting canopy just like me. I wondered how long he had been there, whether he had been observing me this whole time. Through the deluge of rain and mist I found it difficult to discern his physical appearance. He was dressed in an oversized dark raincoat, its hood deliberately covering a large portion of his face. I wondered if I should make a move or call out to him, then decided against it. He needed time and I was willing to give as much of it as he wanted, just as long as he didn’t bolt.

After several minutes he gingerly took a step out of his enclave in my direction, slowly picking up pace. I stood immobile, waiting with bated breath as he made his way towards me. As he got closer I took in his long stringy hair dripping with moisture, his slightly lopsided mouth and the glinting piercing in his left ear. My heart raced as I tried to remember where I had seen him before.