Thomas looked at the sky as he walked outside to his favorite spot in the house. It was a hammock between two big trees that grow up apples during the fall. It was the perfect place to read a book during the summer. 

He had brought one flask with iced tea and one of the new books his boyfriend bought him after work. He sat down and started reading under the trees feeling the soft breeze.

The next thing he knew was that he heard a clap of thunder.

Thomas woke up feeling agitated and looked at the sky. He fell asleep at some point where he was reading. He grabbed his book and dashed to the house as another thunder roar in the distance. He threw the book aside and got in one of the closets before it started raining and covered his ears. 

James was on his way home after a day working hard and was returning after getting some groceries for that night dinner with his three-years boyfriend. As he stopped on a red light he heard the rain pouring down. 

He drove all the way back calmly. As he parked on their garage and called Thomas so he could help him with the groceries he noticed that their house was silent. No sound but the thunder and the rain outside.

Then the loudest of them echoed and James could hear a yelp coming from the closet where he and Thomas kept their coats as well the vacuum and some extra supplies, mostly cleaning supplies. 

He walked there and opened the door. Thomas was trembling covering his mouth so he couldn't say anything else. He had tears falling from his eyes and was hiding behind the few boxes they had to unpack. 

"Tom? What are you doing here?" James asked as he walked inside. 

Thomas looked at him feeling so terrified. He never told James why every time they had a date he canceled it if he heard it was going to rain that day. He always came up with an excuse and James usually visit him at home. 

He was going to say something when he heard another thunder and yelped.  

James was about to go when Thomas grabbed him by the wrist. "Don't... please d-don't leave me..." 

James sighed and closed the door before sitting next to Thomas, who immediately curled up and lay down in his boyfriend's lap. James instantly started to play with Thomas' curls, something he found out that calmed him down.

After a few minutes, Thomas finally said something. "I... I didn't expect you to arrive this early..." 

"I arrived the same as always, even a little later since I went to buy some groceries..." James said caressing Thomas' curls softly.

"I didn't notice..." Thomas said curling up. "I've been hiding here since it started raining. I... I... can't..." 

"You hide because you were scared... You always canceled when it was going to rain, can I ask why?" James said looking at him.

Thomas nodded and played with his fingers. "Before I met you, I was dating this girl... I was deeply in love with her as I am with you now. She was amazing... My sister went to pick us up one day after we had our date ruined by the rain. Both were in the front talking as I was talking to a friend. Then during a curve, another driver lost control and crashed against us. I remember waking up feeling water dropping on my face. I... I was the only survivor of our car... After I got out of the hospital and after I therapy, I was slowly returning to have a normal life. Then one day during a class, it started raining hard and I just panicked... I couldn't get out of bed, let alone home when it was raining. I was afraid of having another accident. It took me months to be able to take a shower without having a flashback and cry."

James continued playing with his curls as Thomas continued.

"I... I can't help but panic when there's a storm. I feel the urge to hide so it won't hurt me... I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before. I think it's stupid that I still have to deal with this... I-"

"Hey... it's okay, Thomas. I'm glad that you decided to share this with me... we can stay here as long as you need. I'm not in a hurry." James said kissing his cheek as Thomas smiled softly.

"Thank you..."