Tania is hiding under her umbrella again. I really hate when she does that, I like her honey-colored hair and the soft white skin of her face so much. People look at us with puzzled expression on their faces. So what if it’s sunny outside? Can’t a girl carry an umbrella? You judgemental fools!

Oh, how these people piss me off! Always bothering her like that, when she has enough troubles already! I really wish that one day, she’ll stand straight, look them in the eyes and tell them to man up and talk to her if they have a problem... That would be a sight to behold!

But she never does. She just walks on, with her umbrella, while I shoot lightning bolts at these sorry excuses for people. And I can never know what she feels about it. Tania just hides her face and walks on.

Ever since the death of her parents, I have been here for her. She seemed so sad, so lonely! All her friends disappeared from her life, telling her she was ‘too weird’, or ‘too depressing’. Depressing? My Tania? Hah, these guys are just blind! She’s one of the liveliest creatures I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a few!

Ah, the smile on her face when she sings, her wet hair like a halo of soft light around her angeline face, her all encompassing laugh when a drop of water falls on her nose, the stars in her eyes when she looks at the sea! No, Tania is not a depressing girl. But weird, a little bit, maybe.

She keeps her umbrella open even as we come home, saying a quick ‘hi’ to her two gloomy roommates before going to her room. I can’t stand these guys, or the way they look at us. Mind your own business, simpletons! And don’t you dare give my precious girl those hungry stares, or I’ll show you what ‘cold shower’ can mean!

“Hey, Cloud, do you remember when we first met? I thought you hated me, because you refused to rain on anybody else and followed me everywhere. Funny, now that I think of it. You’ve always been so kind to me...”

Oh, the sound of her voice… As sweet as a gentle waterfall, as melodious as a bird’s song, as soft as a feather… I could get lost in that voice for hours, but the damsel asked a question, and I must answer.

“Yeah, I ‘member. What about it? It’s my fault you thought that, I should’ve talked to you sooner! Hah, stupid me, waiting so long!”

“Yes, you probably should have. But I liked that you were a mystery, too. And it seemed fitting to have you over my shoulders at all time, all grey and electric. It went with my sadness after… After… Oh Cloud, I’m so glad you’re here for me now! You’re the best of friends!”

If I had had a pair of arms, I’d have hugged the poor thing. But as it was, I could only try to express my feelings, which, let’s face it, isn’t my strongest aspect. I’m more on the aggressive side than on the cheesy one. Bah, no choice, right?

“Tania, remember when I first talked to you? What I told you then? I didn’t want an orphan to be alone, so I’ll be your mother now… Well, kid, that’ll be true as long as you need a mother. I’ll always be your own personal, portable, all-time rainy cloud. And I’ll love you as your mother would have.”