Rayne Carter

From the wrong side of the tracks came Rayne. Mischievous, gentle-hearted, protective. Everyone warned you to steer clear when he’s transferred to your middle school, but you saw something they didn’t. No matter what it was, Rayne was thankful for your lack of fear. He’d stood by your side since. That is, until your 21st birthday. Your parents had been pestering you all morning, marriage, grandchildren, and though your family wasn’t poor, they weren’t rich either. Your parents both listed of potential for a relationship, saying you couldn’t stick with Rayne your whole life. You had plans later with Rayne, to go to your first bar. You hadn’t known he’d shown up early to surprise you with gifts he’d spent months saving for. He’d heard what your parents said, it crushed him. He left the gifts, rang the doorbell, and ran off. He watched from a distance as you took your gifts with the radiant smile he’d worked so hard for. You texted him, “Got your gifts. Why didn’t you stay?” He replied with, “Had something urgent to take care of.” And left it at that.