I held the door open br with the palm of my hand br br as if it were a large br magician's card br br about to disappear. br br She opened br her mouth br br to speak... br but the thunder spoke br br for her br br its ventriloquist’s act br timed to a tee br br lightning flashed br in her eyes br br the storm outside br broke br br like some big br existential joke br br just as the storm br broke within her br br tears trickled down br her face br br as the raindrops raced br slowly down the window pane br br mocking her crying br br mascara'd tears br transforming her br br into Coca br the Clown br br br br br br br as if this mask br was her real face. br br 'What the Thunder said...' br br “Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. br Shantih shantih shantih.” br br She sobbed br even more. br br I closed br the door.