It rained in winter. It rained last year too, however, this year it was different. Worse.

It was just my luck. And climate change.

You talked a lot about climate change, and you taught me a lot about it in the process. About the things contributing to it, about the ripple effect of our actions across the earth. You used complex terms like 'ecological balance', 'biodiversity', 'ocean acidification'. But you also paused and explained them to me every time. Thank you for teaching me things. Thank you for telling me of things that matter, things that everyone should care for and be worried about.

So, climate change brought unnatural weather. It started as sporadic rains and overcast days. Then, one night, the clouds burst as if the end of the world was here. A sleety, unforgiving storm.

The funny thing was, I was cursing my luck until you came along. Sheltered by a transparent umbrella, you hurried down the stairs to where I huddled under the basement outcropping, your eyes squinting against the sheet of water. You had a roll of tarp tucked under your arm. Throwing your umbrella aside, you shook the tarp open.

You handed one end to me and said, "I'll fix it up here, create a barrier so the water doesn't reach you."

"Oh..." I uttered, at a loss for words. How lucky I was to have you in my life. I wasn't superstitious but at that moment, I was convinced you were my guardian angel and nothing could convince me otherwise.

"Fuck!" The duct tape slipped from your fingers and bounced into my lap. That was what it took for me to snap out of my moony trance.

I handed it back to you, removing the quilt off me in preparation to help. Bracing my weight on my forearms, I pulled my body onto my old wheelchair. The seat squeaked as I adjusted myself on it. I picked up the other end of the tarp and wheeled forward. "Here," I said, "let me help."

You shook your head vehemently, insisting, "no, I've got this. Get back in the shade and gather your things. Stay there. You don't want anything soaked. Cold rains are brutal."

You made a good point, but I was stubborn. "Let me help."

Another shake of your head, another imploration. "No. Viktor, stay out of the rain and—"

I cut you short with just one, impassioned word: "please."

You stared at me a full minute before finally relenting. "Fine," you huffed.

Using one hand to hold up the tarp on my end, I used my other alongside aid from my teeth to tear pieces of duct tape and helped you as best as I could. The rain was merciless though, washing all our efforts into the drain. You fought and fought and fought, until you realized that it was useless.

Your shoulders sank, as did your spirits, and they took my heart with them. The wet tape gave away for the last time, the tarp falling and settling on me like a deformed tent. I lifted it off and let it drop to the floor. Rain-drenched and dejected, we stayed in silence until your misery became unbearable for me. I reached out, putting the duct tape in your hand, and I patted it in an attempt to comfort you before drawing back into the shade.

"It's okay," I consoled. "It's just rain. I'll live."

You didn't respond, your dark, dark eyes boring into me. You seemed as if you were about to cry or scream. Desperately, I rifled through everything I could say or do to make you feel better. A gust sent a chill through me, cold dampness seeping into my very bones. My chattering teeth awakened something in you. Leaning down, you gripped the armrests of my wheelchair, and I instinctively shrunk.

"Come with me!" you shouted over the thunder, pulling me along towards the stairs.

Stalling the wheels with the heels of my palms, I shook my head in denial. "No, I couldn't possibly—"

"You can and you will."

"No!" I raised my voice too, pressing harder on the wheels when you tried to pull again. "I'll be fine, Solé. Go home. Get out of the rain."

"I'm not leaving you in this storm."

The heavens took that opportunity to remind me of their rage. Thunder boomed like a mountain splitting; I flinched. Meekly, I tried, "you can't stay out here forever..."

The lightning lit up the determination in your expression. "Watch me."

And I gave in. For your sake, and maybe a little bit for my own, too. "I'll go with you."

How fucking lucky I was to have you in my life.

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