Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

“So, is Ray short for anything? Like Rachel or something?” She didn’t respond right away, hugging her bruised wrist to her chest. Even weeks later, I couldn’t look at her with that brace without the prickle of anger edging its way beneath my skin. “I thought it was an innocent question,” I muttered, my feelings mildly hurt as I led the way, turning off Main Street and toward our neighborhood. “It is, but …” She huffed irritably and tipped her head back to look up at the overhead trees that were beginning to bud with new leaves. “Rain.” I looked up, squinting at a clear, star-filled sky. “What? I don’t see any—” “No. I mean, that’s my name. Ray is short for Rain.” My gait slowed as, all at once, I remembered a girl with soft brown hair and a scream I could still hear to this day. The only girl—the only person—from my time before Wayward whom I had never wronged, whom I had simply saved. The girl who had kept me sane during a time I might’ve otherwise gone crazy. “That’s weird,” I said quietly, hardly seeing the road in front of me when I could only see that face. Those big green eyes, full of fear and suspicion. “What is?” “I met a girl named Rain once.” Ray hugged her book even tighter. “And I once met a guy named Soldier.” There’s no way. There’s no possible way … But … what if … I swallowed at a lump in my throat, but to no avail. It wouldn’t budge, just as my heart wouldn’t slow and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “When … when did you meet him?” We took our time turning...