Hold Onto Me

Six

                                                         ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

                                                        Copyright © 2021 Cassey9

Third Person

One by one Rain watches the lights switch off in the remaining cubicles. The last of the employees working overtime finally clocking off for the day leaving her sole occupant in the entire floor.  Peace and stillness envelopes the empty space and like a blanket of snow on Christmas Eve, it wraps everything.

Rain gets off her chair and walks towards the glass wall that encases her office while offering a sweeping view of the surroundings from its elated spot. A year and a half into the company she’d been tasked with heading the PR department. She’d managed to finish off her last year of studies online whilst working hand in hand with Mr. Hathway, the company’s PR head for over three decades. Mr. Hathway had hit his retirement years and William deemed her as the best replacement. Rain toiled hard learning as much as she could from the rigid old man before Mr. Hathway finally left, relinquishing the reigns to her.

The decision had clearly ruffled feathers of some employees who’d been eyeing Mr. Hathway’s position, nonetheless, no one stepped up to challenge William’s decision. A fact that made Rain grow unpopular with most of her colleagues. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t there to make friends but realize the visions of her parent’s hard work.

Friends had become something more of a vanity. With Rain distancing herself to physical and emotional ties. She’d learnt her lesson hard, people couldn’t be trusted especially with emotions, a mistake she was still struggling to walk away from.

She sighs in relief at the sight before her, the expanse had exceptionally dimmed. Rain looked forward to times like this, the office all empty. Leaving Rain to lose herself in her thoughts. Allowing herself to unwind from the chaos, scampering and clamor of the day.

Rain walks back to her chair dumping herself on it brazenly. She kicks off her heels in the process. The six inch stilettos she was obliged to wear to maintain the office’s strict conduct of dressing was equivalent to torture. She also takes the opportunity to untack her maroon silk blouse from the white pencil skirt. Rain casts a downward glance at her outfit, though chic and eye catching it made her feel caged. The dressing so unlike her. She misses her t-shirt, jeans sneakers and the freedom they once offered her.

Her life had made a complete 360 turn including her wardrobe, William constantly around to enforce the changes. He’d erased everything about her life at Crestview apart from the friends, those stuck. Having face-time with them twice a week to keep in touch.

Through it all Rain would smile adding her comments when necessary. Their banters ceaseless, each call with its own source of drama and a bucket load of laughs. Yet talking to her university friends struck a chord especially with Bella.

Rain turns to her computer, the time reading half past seven, she’d kill another hour or so before heading back home. She pulls out her air pods connecting them to the laptop. Music calmed her wild thought. Brought peace over her distraught soul and the words, the words spoke to her. Rain swirls in her chair looking for a relaxed position before letting the lyrics carry her into her world of serenity.

“Drinks?” a familiar voice asks loudly as it enters Rain’s office. Grudgingly she spins from looking out the window to face Warren. His charming face and spotless appearance like a glare to her eyes. From dawn to evening Warren always managed to maintain his spic and span look, a direct  contrast to her current wild appearance, “Hey Rain a few of us guys um…from the office. We are heading out for drinks at the dip. Wanna join us?” he adds when their gazes lock.  

“No Warren. Thank you though.” 

He bites the inside of his cheek, his heart sinking at the turn down. Whilst coming to Rain’s office he’d known the outcome of his invitation but it hadn’t stopped him. It pained Warren whenever people gossiped about Rain. His continuous invitation to her aimed at building some rapport between Rain and their other office mates.

He’d taken time to know Rain, past her hardness and walls she’d erected and he’d found a great person. Someone Warren wanted the rest of the office to get a chance of knowing. Despite working in different departments, two floors down in the HR department he’d sneak moments to come see her.

People around the office questioned their friendship, his intentions, but Warren remained adamant. Uncaring to the words and rumors that circulated. Rain was a genuine person and he’d do all he could for the rest to see her as such. Warren sighs dejectedly but that doesn’t deter Rain’s concentration from her laptop. Taking initiative Warren steps into the office heading around her desk, “Are you watching porn?”

The question surprises Rain who sends him a bewildered look, “What?” she asks incredulously. He laughs at Rain’s face rounding the huge desk to catch a glimpse of the picture that had her total attention. The image of two boys standing next to Rain near an ice cream truck, “Wait? Who’s that?”

“No one.”

“You have children?” he asks jokingly knowing her reply. Warren had done his research and no kids emerged in Rain’s profile. Neither a child nor spouse in her documents.  

“No. There are my friends children.”

“Sure. Let’s go out for drinks. Come on Rain, one drink and you are free to leave,” he whines his face in a pout looking ridiculously annoying.

 “Next time Warren.”

“You always say that.”

“That’s because I don’t want to go Warren. Maybe lunch, just you and me. I’d rather not drink with people who potentially hate me. I’d have to pretend to like them and make awkward conversations. That’s exhausting even for a drink.”

Seeing her unwavering decision, he concedes to her reasoning. “I understand. See you tomorrow then. Same place same time,” he says slapping the table.  With a farewell kiss on her cheek Rain watches him head for the door and waits for him to leave but Warren turns and stares at her.

“What now?” she question tiredly.

“You need stop being so isolated with them. Just reach out and try…”

Accepting his advice Rain nods and smiles. Warren always reached out yet no matter how hard she couldn’t do the same with the rest, “Good night Warren.”

“Good night boss”

~~~~Two hours later~~~~~

Carl beams as he takes Rain’s bags. With a call from Rain he’d driven to the office to pick her up. He rewards Rain with an embrace before opening the back seat door for her, “Had a good day?”

“Yes. And you Carl?”

“Same as always. Good.”

He sets the bags next to Rain and rounds the car to his seat. “Any plans this evening?” Carl asks when he enters the car. Strapping in his seatbelt Carl eyes her through the rearview mirror awaiting directions or requests, “It’s Friday night Rain. Any dates or dinner outs?” he adds when no answers come forth.

“No,” Rain’s answer comes later, “Just take me home to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

His heart grows heavy at the answer and he feels sad for the young woman, “You should get out some more…you are young and beautiful. Have fun, go out, live and love. Get your heart broken and…

“I…I got that last part covered Carl. I don’t think I…I can survive a second heart break.”

He contemplates Rain’s interruption some pieces of the puzzle finally adding up, “Is that what’s stopping you? A heart break?” Carl asks cautiously. He’d noted the change in the young lady since her return home. Rain had been devastated, her mood never picking up. She’d been lost and broken and now he understood.

“Yes.”

“Find someone new Rain…teach that heart of yours to love again.”

His words though wise seem impossible to accomplish. Teaching her heart to trust and love again was like drawing blood from a stone. Impractical. “I can’t…my heart only recognizes one person Carl…wants only one person but she doesn’t feel the same way. Can you believe she went back to her scum of a cheating husband? He’s a cheater! Who does that? Sometimes I think…I think that she never truly loved me. She never loved me…”

“Wait, I’m lost. Did…did she tell you all that herself?” Carl interrupts Rain’s angered ranting.

“No.”

Carl nods and turns to look at Rain when they hit a stop in the traffic, “Then how can you be so sure?”

“I am. But it’s not important anymore. I lost her and worse I don’t seem to be moving on…”

Carl laughs at the dilemma in Rain’s voice. The answer plain in her words and it appears the only thing missing was a nudge. A shove into the right direction. It does comes as a surprise the confession from Rain. Knowing that Rain had been dating a woman. “Oh Rain…that’s how it’s supposed to be when it comes to true love. You can compel your mind to forget but the heart. The heart never forgets. It will always call unto her…”

“You’re encouraging me aren’t you?” she questions meekly.

“Mm hmm. Find your happiness again Rain,” Carl whispers, his words ringing loud in her eyes. Playing in her mind on loop, the taunting behind them causing a whirl wind of emotion.

“Would you go back to her?”

“Are you asking if I’d fight for her?” Carl asks and Rain a faint mutter, “Then yes! I’d go find her and win her back. Something you should be thinking about yourself.” Rain stares out the lit driveway, recognizing the familiar tree as they drive up to the house. The lights are still on all over and she dreads walking into William on her way up.

“We are here,” Carl announces, “I’ll get your bags for…”

“I don’t want to be in trouble with William,” she utters in despair. She was still scared of his warning not wanting to create any fuss between them, “He banned me from ever getting in touch with Karey again. We had a deal... and she's...she's back with her husband. I want to. I really do. But's its hard. Maybe love isn't for everybody. Maybe it isn't for me Carl.”

They both sit in silence, the heaviness of her words charging the air in the car, “Rain, you’re an adult. Capable of making your own decision. It’s your heart, your future. You have to take it by the horns.”

“I can’t do that Carl. That chapter in my life is sadly closed,” Rain murmurs opening the door to get out but hesitates when the driver speaks out.

“You seem adamant...but think about what I said. Reach out to her. It’s your life Rain. Not your brother’s. He had his already,” he mutters as the door shuts behind her. Though dreading the repercussions of his words Carl can’t help but offer his profound advice. Rain needed to hear the truth as it remained the only thing that would set her free. Even if it put his work under William under risk. Carl watches Rain walk up the steps and into the house. Her steps dragged and her mood somber.