Stay With Me - Tabitha

Now the silence is different. It’s the sound of rain hitting her shoulders. The sound of her not turning around.

Tabitha, stay with me.

It lands with a dull thud on the wet grass. She doesn’t pick it up. She walks toward me, slow at first, then faster. Her yellow raincoat is soaked through. When she reaches me, she doesn’t hug me. She puts her cold hands on my face, looks me in the eye, and says: tabitha stay with me

“If I stay, you have to mean it this time. Every single day. Not just on the rainy ones.” Now the silence is different

“Me too,” I say. “I’m terrified. But be terrified with me. Just… stay.” Tabitha, stay with me

The rain softens. Just a little. Just enough to hear her breathe.

She closes her eyes. A single raindrop falls from her lashes.