It has been raining in my city for the past few days, not heavily, but constantly enough that everything feels a bit damp all the time. The streets never fully dry, and the sky stays this flat, pale gray that doesn't really change from morning to evening. I've started checking the weather less because it doesn't seem to matter. It's always some version of rain.
My usual routes feel different in this weather. Walking past the same buildings and shops, everything looks slightly muted, like the city turned its brightness down. The main street looks heavier too, darker and slower, even when the rain is light. Perhaphs people here dislike the rain. Can't relate to them, then.
I've noticed I walk faster without really deciding to, just trying to get from one place to another without lingering too much. The trams have been more crowded than usual, probably because fewer people want to walk or bike. The windows fog up quickly, and everything inside feels a bit too warm compared to outside. It suffocates me time from time.
Yesterday, I decided to walk part of the way home anyway. My shoes got slightly wet, not soaked, just uncomfortable enough to notice with every step. I passed by a row of trees along the sidewalk, and the rain dripping from the leaves came down heavier than the actual rain. For a second, I stopped under one of them to lit my cigarette and immediately regretted it. It's weird how I can forget something so obvious.
What I've been noticing most is how the rain changes my mood without being dramatic about it. I feel more inward, less interested in being out for too long, but not necessarily in a bad way. Mostly, I just want to sleep. At home, I find myself either not really doing much, either doing a lot.
I think I actually like this kind of weather more than I usually admit. There's something about the rain that makes everything feel calmer and more manageable, like the day doesn't expect too much from me, unlike when it's sunny. Even just coming back inside, taking off a damp jacket, and settling into the quiet feels comforting rather than inconvenient.