Rainbow after the Storm by H. Santiago

This story is part of the Make it Bitter or Make it Better Writing Challenge, where we invited writers to explore the storytelling possibilities of a simple situation. We gave authors free reign to interpret the prompt as they see fit, provided that they give their story a clear ending.

Read on and let the author take you on a ride through their imagination. At the end, don't forget to show them your support.

Note: This story has not yet been proofread.

"Along the path we shall all pass through, we will face waves of obstacles ready to knock our feet off the ground. There are roads that we have to choose from, doors that will open that will lead us somewhere we may have no clue. Ways that are not taken or perhaps forgotten, leads to shut doors that can be filled with either unforeseen or anticipated life travail. With all these turns of events in the voyage we have wandered, there are keys that will unlock the future we are most anxious to sup."  

She was sitting on her desk finishing the finale of her manuscript when she got distracted by a loud knock on the widely open door of her office. 

"Pardon the intrusion Ms. Naha, I came here to report on duty and I decided to interfere with the inner mechanisms of your mind" he sarcastically said with a grin plastered on his face while leaning on the door frame.

She breathed heavily in a sigh and spoke, "Why are you always tormenting me?" She jokingly replied.

Then he walked up to her still smiling, "Yup! I know it's one of the things you love about me." He winked.

"Oh really? I thought you said I love you because you are devilishly charming, yet you're still an angel when you are needed the most in times of need?" She smirked.

"Why yes, I'm a complex guy" He said as he sat on the chair by her desk.

"What's up complexo?" She smiled while biting her lower lip.

"I just dropped by to give you this" he seriously said, handing her an old photo from the pocket of his coat.

She instantly felt a wave of melancholia washed over the cheerfulness she had moments earlier as she beheld the memoir in her hands. Then a sense of flashback struck on her along with the cascade of the grey skies on her window. 

Excruciating screams of desperation echoed through her head. 

She knew, this was the core in her memory that she always flees from whenever she encounters things that are connected with that odious experience.

He then noticed the impending catastrophe, doomed by her breakdown, thus, he immediately cleared his throat to speak. "I know I must be a fool to let you see that old photo again, but it has been 20 years since that day, the strains of dread and vexation must still be left in your veins but hear me out on this... I wa---"

He was interrupted.

She irkingly stood up as she slammed the desk and sternly said "Don't you even start me with it, just... don't you even dare!" She warned with her eyes stopped blinking, fixated her serious gaze with his eyes.

He then looked down knowing that he cannot bear to see the sight of loathe upon the windows of her soul. He just breathed deeply in a sigh. "I was decluttering through my old stuff when I came across my journal, when I took it from the box that photo immediately fell as if reminding me of the old times" he grievously replied.

He knew that instance was a reminder of the memento that there are some things that ought to be thought outside the box. 

"I then flipped through the pages of that long forgotten history and instantly reminisced not that event, but what we actually were when everything was bright as the sun" he wretchedly replied.

Then suddenly, the windows got drenched by rain drops seemingly abiding with the despair in her heart as she walked towards while seeing the sepia of the dull clouds. 

It was on a similar day as this when that fateful day took place. 

They went from a studio to take that photo as a celebration of their hard earned commission from the manuscript they all poured together their mind, heart, and soul with. The date they could never forget, it was 20 years ago from today's year, 1975, when everything abruptly fell apart. 

Unbeknownst to these group of friends, the tragic nightmare that was about to unfold so they were still acting merrily.

They were walking down the street when a group of thugs suddenly barred their way. They began harassing the woman, touching her in parts that should be respected.

This hideous act fueled the raging fire of her two best friends, Lee and Jezrel. They immediately stood up against those thugs to subdue them and defend their girl friend. They fought to instill discipline in these beasts. However, one of them had a knife in his pocket. He instantly drew his weapon, threatening to kill them if they do not let them do as they please.

"Stay back, I've got a weapon! I'll finish yer, all yah!" He exclaimed as he pulled Naha closer to him with his knife pointed to her neck. 

"Put your hands up!" He demanded.

Seeing this, Lee and Jezrel had no choice but to obey. Then the gang held against them, brutally beating them up to death until they were satisfied. Lee, being learned in the ways of defensive arts, was able to defend himself before being murdered. 

"No please, please stop them! Please don't hurt them!" Naha begged and pleaded for mercy from the gang leader.

"Don't you talk back!" He said, holding her even tighter, sniffing her scent from her neck.

However, Jezrel on the other hand was incapable of holding it anymore, he acquired severe beating that tragically put an end to his life. 

The sky dimmed, the clouds shed tears on Jezrel's passing.

"No Jezrel" she screamed helplessly, as she witnessed the light depart from her best friend's eyes.

The police immediately came to rescue them and took the trio to the hospital for treatment. But it was too late for Jezrel, he was declared Dead on Arrival by the doctors who were there to examine him. 

For Naha, this was a reprehensible act in the context of humanity. She swore to bring justice to her friend. 

The perpetrators were eventually captured and spent the rest of their lives deprived of liberty behind the bars. 

The tormenting years of losing someone went on for ages as Naha is still blaming herself responsible for what happened to their beloved friend to this day. 

Back to the present times....

"No one was blaming you for what happened, it was none of your fault. You have been grieving for so long that you locked up yourself in a cage of caliginous concealing her scorched wings to soar" Lee comforting Naha on his arms as she shed tears like the skies above.

"We both miss him.. we will never ever forget him.. matter of fact he never left.." he comfortingly said, patting her head.

"He will always be here.." she promptly added, putting her hand on Lee's chest. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jezrel T. Somers (July 01, 1950 - August 21, 1975)

~ Forever beloved and remembered by family and friends ~

They arrived on his grave as it was actually his death anniversary. As she knelt with one knee to put on flowers on his grave...

She spoke these sentences silently in her mind.

"I will never forget about you... we shall always yearn for you.. I will always pray for you... I know you'd want me to feel the sun shine again....."  

She knew he was smiling from above as she gazed up and the rain finally stopped. A rainbow was shown surrounded by the clouds. The warmth of the sun was felt again by her face as she smiled back to the skies for him.

THE END

Want to support this story?

You can vote by:

• Clicking the like button below

• Liking this story’s teaser post on Instagram and TikTok

Every like counts toward the final results. 

Written By: H. Santiago