First rains of the season

The city finally received its first rain after months of weary waiting and thirst...

The pungent, musty smell from the street wafted up, penetrating my nostrils, and I immediately realized that raindrops were falling, the rain gradually intensifying and covering the entire sky; when the rain had enough to form streams on the hot asphalt, it emitted a distinctive smell characteristic of the first rain of summer.

I rushed under the eaves. I stood there, lost in thought, waiting... A cool breeze seeped in, settling on my hair, on my tanned face, seeping into my heart like sweet, intoxicating lyrics. Rain beside me, rain in the distance, a white blur obscuring every street. Rain danced on the trellises, clinging to the clusters of flamboyant flowers. Rain settled on the hair and soft lips of my younger sister after days of dry, sunny weather...

Cars speeding down the street abruptly stopped, seeking shelter under awnings. The awnings weren't wide enough to protect them from the torrential rain, chased by the wind. I got wet, and so did those sheltering. It was a gentle, tranquil, sweet wetness that seeped into our souls, as if trying to slow down time, to forget the hustle and bustle of life's flow.

Under the eaves, people suddenly felt as if they had known each other for a very long time. They smiled and greeted each other, chatted happily, and shared the few dry patches of ground. Like family, close and joyful, they enjoyed together the harmonious moments of a love song created by the summer rain, lingering and serene...

Across the street, a row of brightly colored makeshift umbrellas were blown over by the wind, their contents soaking wet. Two young men were helping a woman running a small shop move her cluttered table and beverage preparation equipment further inside to keep it dry. The shop was quite crowded, with seats reserved for the elderly and children. Several young men and women happily held out their hands to catch the rain and then gently patted their faces, while others busily took pictures and videos with their smartphones from various angles. The shop owner continued to greet customers warmly, quickly tidying up her belongings to make room for those seeking shelter from the rain.

After months of scorching, dry heat and suffocating smog and dust, everyone longs for the rain. In the rain, the weather is cool and refreshing, hearts feel lighter, and everyone wants to slow down, to love more, to open up, to be closer, and to strengthen bonds of kinship...

In June, the weather is so strange, suddenly raining, suddenly sunny, capricious like a teenage girl's personality—angry yet affectionate, affectionate yet angry, gentle and obedient suddenly turning arrogant... Perhaps, because the scorching sun has taken over all the familiar corners, the first rains of the season have helped to soothe the streets, wash away the oppressive heat, and all living things suddenly become vibrant and joyful, as if it were an inevitable part of nature.

The rainy season has arrived again. In the struggle for survival, each person welcomes the rainy season with different feelings of joy and sorrow, depending on their circumstances. Whether we like it or not, the rainy season will inevitably come and last according to the immutable laws of nature. We all gradually become accustomed to the sudden arrival and departure of the rains, as we have experienced throughout our lives.

However, every first rain of the season always brings a special feeling to people. For me, each rain brings me new perspectives on the city I've known for decades. The interplay of rain and sunshine, of the earth and sky, creates a gentle feeling in the city and in people's hearts, making the scenery more poetic than ever.

I silently thank the first summer rains for quenching my thirst, and everyone's!

nld.com.vn

Source