Now came the first real boom, like a herald announcing the coming of a great king. In response, the wind groaned under the push of the sound of the thunder rippling out in great waves away from the source. The dark spot claimed half the sky and the sun was put to rest. The trees bent, giving up leaves to fly upon the turbulence of the wind. Still there was no rain. As far as the eyes could see the colors sprang forth as if to resist the increasing darkness. A silent and terrible flash commanded the eye toward the hot bolt that the darkness threw at the ground. Seconds later the sound of the fierce strike came like a tidal wave, upon which the first sheets of rain rode.

The two of them stood hypnotized by the spell that was coming upon them.

For too long the air had been hot and dry. For too long they had not touched. Now the air was becoming charged, and they deeply breathed in the fortification that made all new again. The rain drops chose to strike them here, then there - not to soak them, but to let them feel the uniqueness of each touch. He moved behind her and placed his arms around her. She leaned back into him. Another flash of lightning split the air and a charge passed between them. The next wave of rain rode the sound of the thunderclap in and pelted them.

To her, there was a rush of chill at her front. The contrast of that to the warmth behind her mirrored the contrasting colors of the leaves, now glistening and twisting wildly.

While she shielded his torso from the increasing shower, his arms became soaked and, as he placed his face next to hers, he found it impossible to keep his eyes open. Their hair was drenched. He brought his mouth to her ear and tasted the rain that ran between them. She turned her face to him and he kissed the rain on her cheek. Unwrapping one arm, he turned to face her. To hold her. She held onto him. A deafening boom failed to shake them as their eyes met in the sudden flash of the lightning. In that split second where the world halts so totally rain drops become immobilized, their eyes locked for an eternity.

When they realized that their souls had leapt into each other's hearts it had already happened. The storm performed the confirmation, chilling the air to the point the two wet lovers needed to press together to keep from shivering. The pressure, the warmth, the touch combined to complete the bond. The lightning celebrated and the thunder applauded again and again as they kissed forever.

Before the rains arrived, it was thought that the land was fading. It was a long time before it was realized that nothing was growing. Sometime after that, it was admitted - what was there was fading. Months of watering the landscape with the existing water supply had kept it from dying, but water was not enough. The air itself needed to be charged. It finally came to the point of letting it go; to allow the land dry up and become barren.

And then the storm came. No command made it come. It came because it was needed. Because it had to be. Because miracles exist to relieve desperation.

It would not let go. There was no way to avoid it. There was no desire to avoid it. It could not be told to "be still".

The lovers lay together, powerless but to let the rain renew.