Finding the Rainbow with Dan

 I have an interesting story. When I was about 16, I always loved watching the sky. Everyday, whether it was sunny, or cloudy, cold, or hot. But the only thing that deterred me was thunder. I had severe astraphobia, which meant I would quite literally panic at the crashing sound of a thunderbolt.

 My high school classmates always joked about me.
  "What an idiot!" "So ridiculous" "I bet you couldn't last in a storm!"

 I got pushed to my limit, and I wanted to prove them wrong. But there was one friend, Dan, also16 years old, who would never insult me. He was very kind and gentle, and he didn't like confrontation, which it was sad that he never defended me when I was pushed around. Yet he meekly still had my back.

One day Dan the tall brunette said to me,
  "You don't have to do this, you know. You don't have to prove them wrong."

I replied,
  "I do. I really want to prove them wrong. Besides, I need to face my fear."

Dan replied with a sigh,
 "Fine. But I want to go with you so you have someone to comfort if you can't handle it. Okay?"
 He was being considerate, so I agreed. And so, we waited until there was a stormy day for about a week.

Finally, on a Saturday morning,I got a text from Dan saying,
 "Stormy day at 11:00 A.M. Your house or mine?"

 I replied,
 "My house. My parents are at the grocery store."

  I pulled from the covers and began dressing. As usual, I put on my t-shirt and shorts, because I enjoyed the feeling of rain, ironically enough. After a less-than healthy meal of cereal, I heard a knock at the door. I answered to see Dan wearing a blue hoodie with sweatpants. We both trudged bravely outside to the backyard of my home. Choosing a central open spot, I laid down on my back while he sat beside me.

  We talked for a little while until clouds slowly began to darken and condense. In a matter of minutes, overcast clouds blanketed the once blue sky. As soon as the crack of thunder was heard, I quickly held to Dan's hand, who seemed to not care, as he said or did nothing. He must have understood my fear when he intertwined our fingers and pulled me to his shoulder. I squeezed his hand and closed my eyes, resting on his shoulder, while Dan said soothing words.
  "It's alright. It's alright. I've got you. Everything's okay."

 The thunder increased, which only made more of my astraphobial symptoms appear. I started hyperventilating, random shaking, even a few tears. But unlike those mean classmates, Dan never made fun. He held me close to him, whispering sweet nothings, rubbing my back, arm around my waist. Finally, I calmed down. Even though the thunder continued, my breathing became normal and the tremors ended.

 Even a little after the storm calmed, I stayed in his arms, and he cradled me. Finally, Dan broke the silence,
 "Are you alright?"

 I smiled up at him, saying possibly the corniest joke,
  "Right as rain."

 We both laughed together. Since that day, I no longer had astraphobia. Perhaps it was just a childish habit all along rather than a psychological fear. But either way, when I think of thunder, I'm reminded of that day, and the sweet nurturing soul who embraced me through the din. Indeed I found a Rainbow much greater in value than any amount of gold.

Anonymous