Mid-day shower

Aislin and her cowboy ran through the rain, his white shirt soaked through to show a collection of star tattoos peppered across his small shoulders. Aislin’s heels clacked against the pavement with yesterday’s newspaper held above her head in place of an umbrella; hair matted to the sides of her face. She looked to the sky with eyes closed and smiled at her mid-day shower.

She stepped inside the gallery and shook the rain out of her hair as Alfred would shake off a bath, eliciting a peel of laughter from Duke. It was more of a guffaw than a giggle, which surprised Aislin. His every movement seemed premeditated and measured, while his laugh was loud and boisterous. Puddled rainwater gathered at their feet as they waited for a staff member to appear. Red dots marked the placards next to each of her pieces. A sold out show. She’d even raised her prices hoping that some wouldn’t sell.