It is fall, but Mother Nature doesn’t care. The temperature climbs higher and higher. Meteorologists wince during their broadcasts, and I know they aren’t the only one wincing.

It feels like over a hundred degrees in Houston, the humid air simply adding to the deathly temperature. Everyone moans about the heat. Some comment on the chances of drowning with this humidity.

My mom regrets bringing the winter clothing out from the closet. Throughout in my classes, we all agree that air conditioning was the most amazing invention of all time. Not a jacket is seen anywhere.

But an answer to our prayers soon comes: a storm sweeps through, thunder cracking form outside; so strong, so violent, and from our seats in class, every single person turns around and looks out the window. We see lightning streak across the sky.

Seconds later, all is quiet. Nothing can be heard except for the pitter and patter of the rain. We turn back around, our heads low. The teacher takes a deep breath and tries to continue her lesson, but she seems to have lost her train of thought.

Everyone is deep in thought: what will the storm do? Will it take the heat away?

—

With my free hand, I push the door to my school open. My backpack is on only one shoulder, a look of casualness on my face, although in my heart, I am anxious.

The door opens, and I step out. It is the moment of truth. A strong blast of cold air greets me. I cannot believe it. Surely this is a lie.

For a moment, I am confused. No change can happen so fast. What has happened? My shirt billows in the wind like towels on a clothing line desperately holding on as I walk towards the bike racks.

Only a few stragglers are still standing by the bike racks. They chat in low tones, oblivious to my presence. A chill passes through my spine as the cold air is confirmed: the heat is gone! It has disappeared, swallowed by the powers of cold and the forces of crisp air.

I take a deep breath. I breath in this new air like I have not breathed in a very long time. This is a very special gift to me, and to everyone. What a wonderful present to anyone having a birthday. I smile.

—

Days pass, and each day we indulge in the wonderful sensation of having cool air around us. My mom smiles as she hands me my jacket before I go to school. If my jacket could smile, I know it would too.

One day, a thunder cracks through the twittering of birds. Instantly they are silent, and nothing can be heard. Then the rain begins again, as far away from steady as it can be.

It rains like the clouds have forgotten the proper way to rain: it comes on and off, jumping spastically. Sometimes it rains hard like a hurricane, and sometimes it just drizzles, annoying us all with this neutral weather.

I stand by the window. I watch the rain as it falls down onto the ground, making a rattling noise. Some raindrops land on the window, and they slowly quiver downwards, stopping at the bottom as if out of breath.

After hours of torture, the rain stops. I open the door. There is no smile on my face. A blast of moist and hot air greets me. My glasses instantly fog up. I feel like I am already sweating.

Without another word, I turn around and go back into my house. Then I shut the door. I don’t want to do anything in this weather. I want the better weather to come back.

But then I sit down and think to myself: how many things have I wanted? How many of them have come? How many have come and gone, as if someone watching over me has decided to offer me a teaser?

Without another word, I stand up and walk away again. There’s no use in just sitting here. I just have to live my life. The cool air will come back.

—

Photo: zoutedrop, silent shot, shinealight.