All Chapters of When the Rain Stopped, I Left: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

The car stopped at the entrance to our apartment complex.The security guard wouldn't let unregistered vehicles into the underground garage. Maya, worried I'd get drenched, rolled down her window to argue with him.I held her back and shook my head."It's fine. The lobby isn't far. Thanks for the ride tonight."I pushed open the car door and dashed into the downpour.The rain hammered down like gravel, stinging my face.It was only a few hundred feet, but by the time I made it into the apartment lobby, my coat was plastered to my body and the blouse underneath was soaked through.I kept my head down so the neighbors in the elevator wouldn't see the state I was in, went inside, and headed straight for the bathroom.Hot water poured over my head, washing away the chill and the tears I had been holding back for so long.Maya must have seen it just now.Seen that the Evelyn the entire campus had envied for four years couldn't even get someone to bring her an umbrella.Back in college, Noah

I looked up at him.Noah took a deep breath, as if fighting to hold back his anger."When your friends come over, don't I always prepare wine and dinner? So why is it that when it comes to Selena, you can't even manage basic courtesy?"You're really embarrassing me.""Embarrassing you?" I laughed despite myself."A woman moving into your place in the middle of the night isn't embarrassing? Her calling you every time she needs something isn't embarrassing? If she needs a man to take care of her that badly, why doesn't she go find a boyfriend of her own?""She's a friend I grew up with. What's the big deal about one night?"Noah rubbed his face in frustration, his voice finally slipping past his control."We're about to get engaged, and you're still this paranoid. What, once we're married I'm not allowed to have friends? I have to devote my entire life to you and no one else before it counts as loyalty?"Right then, Selena's voice drifted from the direction of the guest room."Noah, the

"Evelyn, you didn't come in to work today? Is it really that serious?""Are you sick? I was a little harsh yesterday, I know. Come home today. I've smoothed things over with Selena. She says she won't hold it against you.""You transferred? Why didn't you tell me? Answer the phone."I skimmed through them and blocked his contact.I had barely set my luggage down in the project apartment when Noah called again from an unknown number.I declined.He called again.I blocked that number too.I showered, slept, and managed to force myself through the worst of the jet lag.That evening, my parents called on video."Evie, Noah said he can't reach you. Are you all right? We haven't heard from you in so long. We've been worried sick."I shook my head."Mom, Dad, I'm fine. I just fell asleep after landing and forgot to let you know."Mom let out a breath of relief."As long as you're okay. You left in such a hurry. Your father and I will send you a care package tomorrow.""Thanks, Mom. Thanks, D

(Third person’s POV)After being blocked again, Noah's chest felt like it was packed with waterlogged cotton, heavy and suffocating.He had been certain Evelyn was just being spiteful.A few weeks, a few months, and she would come back to him.But now, for the first time, he wasn't so sure.On the drive home from work, the wipers dragged back and forth across the windshield.He couldn't help thinking about the past.In eight years, he and Evelyn had rarely truly fought.But since last year, they had been giving each other the silent treatment over Selena again and again.At some point, a third person had become a fixture on their dates.Whenever the three of them ate together, Selena would happily launch into stories about their childhood street, the old church, the neighbor's grapevine, memories that only she and Noah shared.Evelyn would sit across from them, head down, cutting her steak in silence, unable to get a word in.At the time, Noah hadn't thought anything of it.Looking bac