Dancing in the Rain

I loved watching performers do magic on the stage with their feet and their voices. I loved watching many sort of action and drama pass before my eyes. And every time the rain fell I would picture myself standing in a simple grassy patch with my arms held out, eyes facing the sky and dancing in the rain. I wouldn't care how wet I became. I wouldn't care about the water in my shoes, soaking brand new, white socks. It didn't matter to me.

I watched the lightening outside. The rain pouring down heavily and beating against the hospital window. My hands gripped the sheets lightly, finger the scratch fabric of the top blanket, bright yellow against the otherwise, white walls and linoleum floors underneath. I blinked slowly. I watched for a rainbow while my mind aimlessly wandered again.

I wanted to dance in the rain.

I hate the rain.

It reminded me of when I was first admitted into the hospital. I was twelve back then, a child brought in by his parents because he feeling sick. What they thought was a mild illness turned out to be more serious than they could imagined. It was the beginning of the rest of my life.

I have been there for eight years and I felt like I was cheated out of my life. There were days when I was too sick to do anything but lay in my hospital bed. I had wished so many times I was healthy so I could live a normal life.

On rainy days like this, I would close my eyes and imagine myself being healthy, watching the street performers or even joining in.

I sat in my wheelchair in the rec room where other patients were talking and spending time together. I was eighteen years old and really had nothing more to expect in life than to be hospitalized. I was tired, bored and had nothing better to do than to finish studying online.

What can I say, I love the rec room.

It was the only place in the hospital where I could at least feel like a normal person. I would talk with the other patients, though I tend not to get attached to them as they would either recover and be released or die. Other than that, it was a decent place to be and I would come there on days when I was feeling well. My usual activities there were usually surfing the Internet and reading books.

On that particular day, I was wheeled in as usual and I headed for the computers to check on a few websites as well as chat with my friends. It was then I noticed a young woman sitting at the computer I usually use. Normally, I'd go to another computer if my usual on was occupied, but for some reason, I had decided to get closer to the girl and look over shoulder. I was about close enough to take a peek when my wheelchair collided with hers with a loud clang.

I felt like the wind was knocked out of me the way my chair moved. I had been on oxygen for a week when that happened and it really took my be surprise. I stopped what I was doing on the art site I often visited and turned to look at him. He looked a little bit surprised himself, at least I guessed that was it.

"Sorry!" I said, feeling embarrassed. I could feel the heat rushing into my cheeks as I looked away from her. I had to get myself calmed down, as stress in any form was not good for my weak body. I wondered what she would do next as I made myself face her. "Are you alright?" I asked, worried I might have caused some damage.

"I'm fine." I replied, "I just got a little bit startled for a moment but I'll be okay." I patted his arm gently and then looked back at the computer screen, browsing more art and other things I loved. I wanted to go outside and take photographs.

"That's a nice art site," I said, looking over her shoulder, "There are even some really good pictures!" I never thought I'd see something like this in my lifetime. As I viewed the pictures with the young woman, I felt something stir inside me. It wasn't a sick feeling, but more like an uplifting feeling one has when they suddenly discovered their purpose in life.

"Some of my own art is here. Stuff I did before being hospitalized. But I do art here too." I nodded a little bit and clicked 'next' on the page. More photos and paintings popped up on the screen. It played a slide show, each picture showed for a moment before fading into a different one.

I was enthralled as we looked at her art together. "That was pretty amazing," I said as the slide show went on. I never knew she was talented as an artist and a photographer. There was one thing that bugged me, though.

"What is your name, just out of curiosity?" I asked, hoping she'd answer.

I heard him speaking to me again and looked to face him, "Iris." I replied softly. He had a cute face and I just couldn't help but smile at him, resting my arms on the desk in front of me.

"That's a lovely name," I said, looking into her lovely brown eyes, "My name's Jake." I couldn't help but think how cute she was. I chuckled to myself, feeling lucky to have met this girl.

"Thank you. It's nice to meet you as well." I turned to look at the screen again but stopped myself short of clicking anything. "Am I in your way?"

"No, that's okay," I said, settling down, "I have a pretty good view from here." I was close enough so I could see most of the computer screen. And besides, Iris herself was pretty good to look at!

"N-No... I mean were you wanting to use this?" I didn't always use the computers. sometimes I did but it was hard to really stay too long. I got tired so fast.