Summer Showers

In the deep void of the universe, the center of our life and the start of our existence burns in its glory. A star that we have come to depend on and who gave us life. It sits in the middle of the solar system watching the planets and beyond, holding the answer to the deepest of mysteries: the Sun. And at just the right distance a planet revolves around the Sun, the only known planet to hold life, our Earth. And so a beam of life giving light and energy travels towards the Earth. The light will take thousands of years to reach our Earth, but its heat and warmth is no less welcome.

In a garden, thousands of years later, the plants and animals receive the Sun's Gentle touch. Squirrels run about, chasing each other and butterflies dance in the wind. The summer heat rose as insects buzzed. Animals and humans alike sought the cool relief of shade. In a corner of the garden, tucked between bushes was a flower, the dirt its roots dug into was dry and cracked under the Sun's intense heat. Its leaves were gone, fallen victim to insects and so its beauty was marred. It looked with envy upon a rose, the gentle and delicate red petals greeted the sun's warmth with grace.  

And suddenly the heat began to dissipate and a chill breeze brought a tense demeanor. Dark clouds rolled in, refusing the thousand year old light to warm the ground. The robins stopped chirping and returned to the safety of their nests and the squirrels scampered back towards the trees. The leaves of the flower quivered in anticipation. A storm was coming.

The first drops of water hit the ground, moistening the parched dirt and filling it with nutrients. The rain began pouring down, dumping the excess water back to the earth, returning the cool air. The water continued to patter on the ground. Under the trees drooping leaves the flower received the cool water as it rolled down into a pitch, Its stems, which once held leaves caught the droplets and held them close.

The storm's anger died down, its anger evaporated as the contents of the dark clouds were spent. Once again, the sun's rays hit the Earth, Tentatively, the squirrels peeked its head out of the thick canopy and put its foot down on the soft spongy earth. With more courage, it frolicked around the wet grass, exciting the other chipmunks and squirrels. As the sun fully emerged behind the clouds, its rays caught the water droplets on the leafless flower. The water sparkled in the sunlight, throwing out rainbows. The leafless plant stood tall and proud as the sun smiled down on its beauty.