The dark clouds came together, forming a thin, angry line, sending down straight strands of water. The rain gathered into puddles on the yard below. I watched from my tenth floor, trying to breathe in the scent of the earth. Rushing down the stairs into the yard, I knelt near the puddles, trying to inhale deeply.
“Ma’am, where is your mask?”
I looked up blankly to see a uniformed man.
“May I see your ID?” he asked after a minute.
I tried to take in the disappearing scent of petrichor.
“Answer me. Are you a citizen?” He asked.
Panic began to spread through me when the rain slowed into a drizzle.
Suddenly, I felt sorry for him. “Take your mask off for a minute. Inhale the teakwood and the wet earth before they get away.” I begged him.
The officer turned to another man who tapped his head, his eyes crinkling. I watched the earth sucking in the last drops of rain among their muffled sounds of laughter. My eyes filled up.
"Not all there. She has been like this for more than a year." a voice said as the dry clouds departed, leaving the skies blue and clear.
“Ma’am, where is your mask?”
I looked up blankly to see a uniformed man.
“May I see your ID?” he asked after a minute.
I tried to take in the disappearing scent of petrichor.
“Answer me. Are you a citizen?” He asked.
Panic began to spread through me when the rain slowed into a drizzle.
Suddenly, I felt sorry for him. “Take your mask off for a minute. Inhale the teakwood and the wet earth before they get away.” I begged him.
The officer turned to another man who tapped his head, his eyes crinkling. I watched the earth sucking in the last drops of rain among their muffled sounds of laughter. My eyes filled up.
"Not all there. She has been like this for more than a year." a voice said as the dry clouds departed, leaving the skies blue and clear.
