Hopelessly I stand br curls plastered to my skull br br the bus stop br sprouting mushroom umbrellas br br each passing bus br that doesn't stop br br splashing us br ...we curse. br br But I inhabit br a parallel universe br br of rain br when I was nine br br much more real br than this br br the rain my friend br its fingers br br caressing br my upturned face br br curls plastered br to my skull br br walking hand br in hand br br with June br br warmed as I am br now br br by her lips br laughter br br still my name br br forever living br in her smile.