☔ After the Storm: My Journey Home

The sky opened up before I was ready for it.

Rain poured down in sheets — not the soft drizzle Seattle’s known for,

but the kind that soaks your dress before you can even lift your cane, grab your umbrella, or gather your thoughts.

I moved as best I could —balancing what I could hold, and letting go of what I couldn’t.

By the time I made it to Poopsie, I was drenched but grateful.

The drive home told its own story —a car into the divider coming off the West Seattle bridge, people on the streets of 12th and Jackson standing still in the storm, faces blank, clothes clinging, eyes lost somewhere else.

And there I was — warm now, body aching, but safe, dry, and aware of how fragile all of this can be.

That forgotten umbrella in the drawer became a small blessing, a reminder that sometimes what we need is already waiting for us.

Tonight, I’m wrapped in my electric blanket, feeling each ache, but also feeling thankful. Because survival isn’t just about making it through the rain —it’s about noticing the ones still standing in it.

Tonight, I’m reminded how blessed I am to have a roof over my head, a warm blanket, and peace after the storm.

My heart aches for those still standing in the rain — the ones who don’t have a place to dry off or rest.

May they find warmth, safety, and a little light to guide them through their storm.

Simply Flava 🌻