SpringRaininMind
Theraindropswerefallingfromthesky,pitter-patteringontheroofofthesmallcottagethatnestledamidsttheverdanthills.Thesoundoftherainwassoothingandcomforting,abalmforthewearysoul.Theoldmansittinginhischairbythewindowwatchedtherainwithasenseofpeaceandcontentment,lostinhisthoughts.HewasMr.Liu,aretiredschoolteacherwhohadlivedinthiscottageforoverthirtyyears.Hehadseenthechangingseasons,witnessedthegrowthofcropsandtrees,andexperiencedthejoysandsorrowsoflife.Hehadlearnedtoappreciatethebeautyofnatureandthewisdomofancientsages.Hehadalsofacedhisownmortalityandpreparedhimselfforthefinaljourney.Buttherewassomethingspecialaboutthisspringrain.Itwasnotjustashowertowaterthecropsandflowers,butasignofhopeandrenewal.Itbroughtbackmemoriesofhisyouth,whenhewasfullofdreamsandaspirations,anditremindedhimofhiswife,whohadpassedawayfiveyearsago.
Heclosedhiseyesandlettherainwashawayhistears.Hefeltasuddenurgetowritesomething,toexpresshisfeelingsandinsights.Hewenttohisdeskandtookoutasheetofpaperandapen.Ashewrote,hewastransportedbacktohischildhood,tothetimewhenhefirstdiscoveredthepowerofwords.Herememberedhowhehadreadpoemsandstoriesunderthelampatnight,howhehadimaginedhimselfasaheroorascholar,howhehadlongedtomakeadifferenceintheworld.Hewroteabouttheraindropsthatdancedontheleaveslikefairies,aboutthesmellofwetearththatrefreshedtheair,aboutthegreenhillsthatstoodtallandproud,aboutthememoriesthatlingeredinhisheart.Healsowroteabouthiswife,whohadbeenhissoulmateandcompanionforoverfortyyears.Herecalledhowtheyhadmetinaparkonasunnyday,howtheyhadfalleninloveatfirstsight,howtheyhadfacedchallengesandobstaclestogether,howtheyhadgrownoldtogether.
Hewroteabouttherainthatfellonhergraveeveryspring,asifshewerestillherewithhim,watchingoverhim,guidinghim.Hewroteaboutthelessonsshehadtaughthim,thevirtuesshehadembodied,thelegacyshehadleftbehind.Hewroteuntilhishandachedandhiseyesgrewtired.Heputdownhispenandlookedoutofthewindowagain.Therainhadstopped,andthesunwaspeekingthroughtheclouds.Arainbowappearedinthesky,abridgethatconnectedheavenandearth.Hesmiledandfeltasenseofgratitude.Hehadfoundpeaceandsolaceintherain,andhehadexpressedhimselfinwords.Hehaddiscoveredthemagicofwriting,thepowertohealandinspire.Hedecidedtosharehisstorywithothers,toletthemknowthattheywerenotaloneintheirstrugglesandsorrows,thattherewashopeandbeautyintheworld.
Hetitledhispiece"SpringRaininMind",atributetotherainthathadawakenedhismemoriesandemotions.Headdedasubtitle:"AMemoirofLoveandLoss",toconveythethemesofhiswriting.Hemailedhismanuscripttoapublisher,hopingthatitwouldfindareadership.Hefeltasenseofaccomplishmentandpurpose.Hesatbackinhischairandwaitedfortheresponse.Helistenedtothesilenceofthecountryside,tothechirpingofthebirds,tothebeatingofhisheart.Heknewthathehaddonehisbest,thathehadfulfilledhiscalling.Heknewthatevenifnoonereadhiswords,hehadwrittenforhimself,forhisownsoul.
Hefeltasenseofpeaceandcontentment,liketherainthathadquenchedhisthirstandrevivedhisspirit.Hefeltasenseofgratitude,liketherainbowthathadbridgedhispastandfuture.Heclosedhiseyesandwhisperedaprayertotheheavens,tothankthemforthegiftoflifeandwriting.Heknewthathewouldalwayscherishthememoryofthespringraininhismind.