I’m walking when Ophelia rings me. It’s pouring down suddenly, heavier than usual and my canvas sneakers are waterlogged. A car breezes past me and throws a wave of water over me. Soaked, I can’t help but think that if the rain carries on like this, that Crabtree Creek is gonna burst its banks.

Even if she wanted to see the sky, it would be impossible from under these dark swirls of cloud. Ophelia’s never wanted to go to the ocean before. She seems to shrink whenever we go down to the Creek and she never does more than dip her toes in whilst the rest of us splash around.

“I’ll be right over.” I know where I left the Goldwing and on finding it in the school bike rack swing my leg over its seat and begin to rev. The rain hits heavy on my head in huge round drops and I hesitate. It’s rained like this every night for three weeks and I can’t help but go back to worrying.

I see Ophelia’s helmet attached to the rear of the bike. As if she were already wrapped around me I whisper, “Okay, Ophelia. Have your wish.”