It was pouring rain outside, my windshield wipers were doing their job. I was on my way home after work, on a road that went on for a while when I noticed a woman walking on the side of the road.

     She seemed to be going the same direction as I was, and I just couldn't keep driving knowing she was out there in the rain, walking. I slowed down, enough to identify her.

     I blinked in surprise. Of all people, it was Hailey. I could recognize her anywhere, as she was the face that tormented me daily in high school.

     My heart sped up a little, anxiousness creeping up on me. I could just keep driving and forget about her. What if she harassed me all the way home? At least it's only twenty minutes of my life, I thought, and it felt like it was the right thing to do, regardless.

     I rolled down the window, took a deep breath and called out to her.

     "Do you want a ride?" I asked, and she stood there for a moment, shocked.

     "Rachel?" she asked, eyes wide. I nodded. "Do you remember me?" she asked, a bewildered look still claiming her face.

     "Yes," I said, fighting a grin. "You're hard to forget."

     "And you still want to give me a ride?" she asked.

     "Yeah. Just get in, you're getting soaked."

     Wordlessly, she nodded, and got inside my car. After giving her a minute to strap in and get settled, I asked, "So, what have you been up to lately?"

     "Why are you being nice to me?" she asked suddenly, "I was an asshole."

      I glanced at her. She looked just as pretty as I remembered, and even with her hair and clothes wet, she still had the looks that people envied.

     "Yeah, you were," I laughed, "but you also helped me. You taught me how to take the insults and let them bounce off of me. You helped me figure out who I was, and what truths I believe. By knocking me down, you were strengthening me."

     I didn't hear a response, so I glanced at her. She was staring at me, speechless.

     "I envied you," she said eventually.

     Now it was my turn to be at a loss for words. "Wait, what?"

     She shrugged, and said, "I guess I thought that you could do it all- do well in school, make genuine friends... It made me feel good to know I had some kind of power."

     I nodded, taking in her words.

     The rest of the drive was uneventful, we chatted a bit about what we've been up to.

     She gave the directions to where she lived, and once we arrived, she climbed out of the car.

     "Thank you," she said sincerely. I felt like Hailey was thanking me for more than just the ride.

     "You're welcome," I replied, with a smile.

     As I drove to my own home, I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face.

___

Word count: 500

LY Prompt- Bully

You are walking down the road one day and you bump into your high school bully. All the memories of the old days come to your mind in a wave.

What will you do next? Will you be able to face your high school bully or will you choose to run? Tell us an inspiring story about your struggles and how you overcame them.