YOUR CORRECTION MADE ME SNORT

This is rough, but my goal was to get something out and I did that.

——

It reminded Haruka of a time long past, when she’d run to
purposefully get caught in the rain. She’d run until she felt the first drops
start, feel them mix with the sweat on her skin, and wait for the sky to open
for her fully. Walking miles in the rain was a misery, but a simple misery. She
could strip down at the end and say she was stupid for getting caught, that her
shoes would be soaked for days and it pissed her off, and for a little while
she had an easy pain to focus on.

The drops got more frequent, sprinkling dark dots into the
sand. Haruka breathed deep to let the scent wash over her.

“Papa, it’s raining!”

Haruka snapped to attention and rummaged through the bag
she’d put in their wagon. “You want your coat, sweetie?”

“No, it’s warm.” Himeka sat down on the jungle gym bridge
and let her feet dangle. “But nobody’s here.”

“That’s true. They’re all a bit smarter than your papa.”

“No! You’re the smartest. You made me queen of the
playground, see?” She stood up and held out her arms. “It’s all mine.”

“Just be careful, it might get slippery. Your highness.”

Himeka laughed. “I’m your highnest!” She came down the slide
and hopped over to Haruka. “That means you got to pull me all the way home.”

“Does it now?”

“No questions. Highnest!”

Haruka chuckled and scooped her into the wagon. “I suppose
you’re right. Onwards, then.” She pulled the wagon along, somewhat regretting
packing the equivalent of a second Himeka’s worth of stuff into their bag.

“Through the puddles, Papa! Puddles!”

Haruka ran so water splashed up the sides of the wagon. The
aches started sooner now, almost as soon as her socks soaked through. In the
days of the war, she never thought she’d ache as much as she did then. It was a
different wariness now, but it made Haruka chuckle. She’d been so miserable in
the midst of it, and now the ache in her bones was a happy one.

She and Himeka stripped out of their clothes together when
they got in. They sat in front of the dryer wrapped in fluffy towels. “I used
to run in the rain a lot you know.”

Himeka nodded. “It’s fun. Like trouble, but without getting in trouble.”

“I didn’t think of it that way.” Haruka laughed. “I think it
was more like putting myself in time out.”

“That’s silly, Papa.” Himeka frowned. “You didn’t do
anything bad.”

Haruka smiled and ruffled Himeka’s hair. There was little
point, she found, in explaining her guilt, especially to a five year old with
no idea of what had happened. “Your papa is a bit silly sometimes.”

“It’s okay, I’m silly too.” She lifted her towel around her
and scooted over into Haruka’s lap. “We can be silly together.”

Haruka pulled her into her arms. “You’re the best girl, you
know that?” She leaned against the laundry room wall and let the hum of the
dryer lull them both to sleep.