Colorful Umbrella (UPDATED)

The wind blew fiercely, as if determined to tear everything apart. Amidst the storm, she walked forward, struggling to protect the colorful umbrella from the merciless wind. The fight left her completely soaked, but she did not seem to care. Saving the umbrella mattered more.

The wind grew harsher, more unforgiving. With one violent gust, the colorful umbrella was snatched away from her hands.

For a moment, she felt defeated.

But she did not give up.

She ran after it.

Her body grew tired, her breath uneven, yet she kept running. The relentless wind carried the umbrella farther away until it finally landed near a dark, lonely shed.

Relief washed over her.

The umbrella was there.

Soaked from head to toe, she slowly walked toward the shed. Even in the darkness, the colorful umbrella looked strangely bright, almost glowing against the dull rain.

As she stepped closer, she sensed movement.

Someone was there.

She hesitated.

The rain whispered against the earth while the wind slowly calmed, but the umbrella seemed to call her forward. Carefully, step by step, she moved closer and finally reached out her hand.

She held the colorful umbrella.

At that exact moment, lightning split the sky.

And she saw the face of a man.

---

“Where are you?” he spoke into his phone.

He paused for a moment before saying softly, “Okay. I’m waiting here. Come soon.”

He hugged the package in his arms tightly, as if afraid someone might steal it from him. He looked at his watch, then back at the package, glancing nervously to his left.

Just then, a beautiful woman approached him.

“Sorry,” she said with a small smile. “I got stuck with something. I couldn’t come earlier.”

He smiled warmly. “It’s okay.”

Her eyes drifted toward the package in his hands.

“What’s that?” she asked curiously.

He did not answer. He simply smiled.

Silence settled between them, but it was not uncomfortable. They enjoyed every second of it.

She pretended not to care about the package, but her wandering eyes betrayed her curiosity.

Noticing this, he chuckled softly and handed it to her.

“This is for you,” he said.

She carefully opened it.

“Aww… this is so beautiful,” she whispered, embracing the umbrella with delight.

“I hope you like it,” he said, his eyes glittering with nervous happiness. “People say black umbrellas are the most practical, so I bought a black one…”

She looked at him and nodded gently.

She absolutely loved it.

---

Lightning struck again.

Back in the dark shed, she tried to see the man’s face clearly. She turned toward the colorful umbrella, then looked around the empty darkness.

Was someone really there?

Or was it only a memory?

The rain was finally growing tired, almost ready to sleep. Dawn yawned softly at the edge of the sky.

Her phone rang.

She answered it quietly.

“I haven’t reached home yet,” she said.

After a small pause, she looked down at the colorful umbrella and smiled faintly.

“Thanks for the umbrella.”