The Animator

I remember one rainy afternoon when I got caught outside with no umbrella and at first I was annoyed because my shoes were soaked and my jacket did nothing, but then I started noticing little things I usually ignored—the way the drops made circles in puddles, how the wind carried the smell of wet earth and leaves, and how people hurried past with umbrellas that bobbed like colorful mushrooms. I ended up walking slower on purpose, letting the rain soak me and listening to its rhythm on the pavement, and by the time I got home I was drenched but somehow happy, like the day had paused just for me to notice something small that felt bigger than it should.