The rain had started softly, a whisper against the rooftops, a gentle tap on the windowpanes of Accra. The sky, once bright, had faded into a deep, brooding gray. The scent of damp earth, mango trees, and distant sea salt curled through the air like a forgotten melody.

I pressed my forehead against the glass, tracing the path of a raindrop as it slid down. The streets below were alive in their own way—vendors pulling plastic sheets over their goods, children dashing barefoot through puddles, laughter carried by the storm’s breeze.

I wanted to be out there, to feel the rain kiss my skin.

But I didn’t move.

Something held me back.

A no distant memory. A voice. A name I out loud every so often... Barrhhhh! Then came the thunder!

A deep, growling boom that rattled the sky.

And then—lightning! A jagged silver streak slashed across the heavens, illuminating the rain-drenched city for a fleeting second.

And in that second, I saw him.

Standing across the street, beneath a flickering streetlamp, his dark silhouette blurred by the downpour.

My breath caught. My fingers trembled against the glass. He still had that effect on me.

No. It couldn’t be. He said he was coming by 1700hours GMT.

It had been two days, since we last saw. 

Two days since he last held my hands and lifted me up into the air like a toddler. I giggled and then smiled. 

When it rains, think of me. He'ld say. 

And I had. Every storm. Every downpour. Every time the sky rained beautifully over Accra, I had thought of him. 

My heart pounded. The rain blurred the window, distorting his figure. Was it really him, was he really here 7 hours early? Or was it just another ghost of my imagination?

The city had slowed, as it always did when the rain took over. Tro-tros honked impatiently. A woman in a bright kente cloth hurried past, shielding herself with a woven basket. The world moved, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

Then he turned.

And I knew.

It was him.

A sharp inhale, a decision made without thought—I flung the door open, the rain instantly drenching me. My feet splashed against the pavement as I ran.

“Kwame!”

The name left my lips before I could stop it.

He stood frozen, his dark eyes locking onto mine through the curtain of rain. The same eyes I loved. The same eyes that held a thousand unspoken promises.

For a second, we just stared. The storm raged around us, but we stood still.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

That same lopsided smile. The one that used to make my heart race.

“You still dancing in the rain?” His voice was calm, warm, like a song I had once known by heart.

I nodded, emotions racing over me like the waves at Labadi Beach. He still had that effect on me “You’re early.”

His smile faltered and his eyes got teary. “Yes, I had to see you. I have missed you.”

I should have laughed, because I laughed over almost everything, but in that instant... I felt it too. I missed him. The rain gushed! Splatters were everywhere but we didn't mind. The rain had a beauty in it, soothing, refreshing, relaxing washing away everything—fear, pride, hesitation, doubt. Kwame missed me. 

“I have missed you too,” I whispered.

“I know.” He took a step closer, the space between us vanishing. His fingers brushed against mine, tentative, testing. “I am here now. Lets step out of thia rain mademoiselle. We don't want you catching a cold.” He chuckled.

The thunder rumbled again, but this time, it didn’t scare me. I was safe. Scuttling away from the rain with you-know-who. Safety? I did feel safe. Seen. And cared for. 

Somewhere in the distance, a tro-tro radio crackled to life, playing an old highlife tune. Jottling me back to reality. The scent of roasting plantains and fresh rain filled the air.

And then, just as I looked up, I saw it.

The perfect double rainbow.

A perfect array of twin arched rainbow fare away from the rain cloud, stretching across the Accra sky, as if the heavens themselves had painted a double promise.

A promise of good times to come, a promise of laughter, a promise of love, a promise of the good live, of hope and happiness. A reassurance of the love!

I smiled.

“Oh,” I sighed, tilting my head back, letting the rain kiss my skin. “Such sweet rain.”

He reached for my hand. This time, I looked hum straight in the eyes and smiled. I was glad he came early. But ssshhh I did say that. 

The End.