The sky darkened mid-afternoon, clouds swelling like cotton stretched across the heavens. By the time Tina noticed the first fat drops falling, she was already halfway down the mansion's expansive lawn. A mischievous grin tugged at her lips as the rain pattered on the earth, soft at first, then harder, bouncing off the leaves and the pavement. She didn't pause, didn't consider the chill—she only felt the thrill of freedom, the kind she'd been denying herself for months.
"Finally!"
She squealed, throwing her arms wide, spinning in place, letting the rain soak her completely. Her hoodie clung to her small frame, darkened by the sudden downpour, and her hair plastered to her cheeks in chaotic, sopping strands. She laughed, the sound echoing over the wet lawn, pure and unrestrained.
"This is perfect! Andy would never understand!"
From the porch, Andrew watched, arms crossed, eyebrows knit. His usual calm was stretched thin.
"Oh no. She's actually doing it."
