Katherine Nicolai

as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head in a few seconds. Watching the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer.

as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head in a few seconds. Watching the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer.

as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head in a few seconds. Watching the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer.

to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down.

to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down.

to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down.

And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers. It was screened in and had just recently had its spring cleaning. The wicker chairs and tables were wiped down, and the cushions laundered and plumped.

And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers. It was screened in and had just recently had its spring cleaning. The wicker chairs and tables were wiped down, and the cushions laundered and plumped.

And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers. It was screened in and had just recently had its spring cleaning. The wicker chairs and tables were wiped down, and the cushions laundered and plumped.

I realized I still held the photo and cloth from my dusting and set them on a table and went close to the screens. A fine mist of water landed on my glasses and cheeks, and I laughed.

I realized I still held the photo and cloth from my dusting and set them on a table and went close to the screens. A fine mist of water landed on my glasses and cheeks, and I laughed.

I realized I still held the photo and cloth from my dusting and set them on a table and went close to the screens. A fine mist of water landed on my glasses and cheeks, and I laughed.

I pulled my glasses from my face and wiped the lenses on my shirt, but stayed close to the screens, liking the cool touch of the rain and the scent of the lake. I could smell moss and waterlogged tree trunks.

I pulled my glasses from my face and wiped the lenses on my shirt, but stayed close to the screens, liking the cool touch of the rain and the scent of the lake. I could smell moss and waterlogged tree trunks.

I pulled my glasses from my face and wiped the lenses on my shirt, but stayed close to the screens, liking the cool touch of the rain and the scent of the lake. I could smell moss and waterlogged tree trunks.

In the distance, the sky was even darker, and I thought this shower might actually become a storm, that lightning and thunder might literally be on the horizon. I wasn't cold, not yet at least, and I walked along the length of the porch.

In the distance, the sky was even darker, and I thought this shower might actually become a storm, that lightning and thunder might literally be on the horizon. I wasn't cold, not yet at least, and I walked along the length of the porch.

In the distance, the sky was even darker, and I thought this shower might actually become a storm, that lightning and thunder might literally be on the horizon. I wasn't cold, not yet at least, and I walked along the length of the porch.

peering closely at the flowerbeds, drinking up all this good water, then into the reedy line at the edge of the lake, where I spotted a long-legged egret, bright white against the green and gray of the water.

peering closely at the flowerbeds, drinking up all this good water, then into the reedy line at the edge of the lake, where I spotted a long-legged egret, bright white against the green and gray of the water.