the air gets darker. i can feel the atmosphere get thick with moisture, my neck gets sweaty and it feels like i’m breathing water. clouds roll in, thick grey poofs, with occasional flashes of blue-white light. a distant rumble shakes the earth, like a giant waking up. i can smell it - a fresh, clean, natural scent, and it feels crisp. at the same time, it’s thick and heavy and clammy.

the rain begins to fall. in the beginning, it’s a light pitter-patter, but soon becomes more intense, pounding hard against the roof of the porch. the wind picks up, blowing branches and grass and leaves around, and making trees sway. lightning flashes almost every ten seconds now, with a crashing rumble of thunder not long after every strike.

i head inside. thunderstorms - just another beautiful part of nature.