You know that feeling before a storm comes?

In that short amount of time where the wind starts tearing through the trees, letting you know the rain's about to slice down from the clouds.Where you feel charged as though with adrenaline and you feel a crazy, stupid, thrill shoot through you if you're outside. Because you know that it's not safe to stay out, and you run, trying to stay out of thunder's reach and get home. Yet you can't help running and then looking back, and up at the sounds of the crackling sky. You see how the clouds are getting darker and you start getting this wicked grin on your face. You know you're not safe yet, but that feeling of being on the edge of something so much bigger, overwhelming, and powerful that close to you is enough to give you a thrill of excitement and fear. And you keep on running, going fast, yet not fast enough to completely escape the grasping tendrils of the storm. Then out of the corner of your eye you see the first flash of brilliant lighting. It promises an end to this little risky fantasy of yours. It promises real danger and real pain. And suddenly that splendid and awe-striking raw electricity seems a lot more closer and a lot more threatening than before. You hear the way your shoes slap against the pavement. See the way all the colors around you have darkened. You feel the way your shirt sticks to your heated skin as the rain slicks you down. As though it were a fingernail made from melting ice you feel a single drop trail down your back. You shiver at the same time that you glance nervously behind you. Another cracked line of light and you feel your breath stop in a way that makes you think it just wrapped itself around your heart and gave it a frightening yank. You keep running, and now you are pushing yourself to your limits. You run as fast as you can without a second thought for the blurry shapes racing across the margins of your vision. Just when you think that ribbon of breath wrung the last beat out of your heart and it wasn't enough, you crash against the door of your home. With one hand on the door and the other against your gut you turn back towards the sky. Lightning still flashes and thunder still crashes. But from the safety of your reality it once again ceases to become tangible. It goes back to being that beautiful phenomenon of a raging sky that’s never touched you. With a sigh, a slowing heartbeat, and a secret and almost sad little smile for the towering clouds, you turn the key and go inside.

“Got back alright then?”

“Yeah…