It was a beautiful day.  

The sun was shining up in the bright blue sky.  
As I listened to Mati talk about her day,  
her ideas, her new school, I couldn't stop
noticing peoples  faces bright and happy.

Whether it was a husband  happy to meet
his wife for his anniversary dinner, or  a
child excited to get that new toy he was
asking for.

A typical summer day, but
brighter than ever. As we arrived at the
red line train stop, I said goodbye to mati
and started to head home.

Half way down the route I was heading
to go home, I felt thirsty. I had decided to
travel through Oz park to get a drink from
the water fountain, and that is when I
noticed a change of scenery.

As I looked at the playground and the
children playing I noticed their shadows
had disappeared. I look around and  it
was getting darker. I pull out my phone
and look at the time. 5:30.

Tony had said towards 6 it would start raining.
I still had 30 minutes to spare. I took another
quick sip and walked down the path leading to
Howe St. I look at the tennis games and the
baseball game and suddenly my heart stops
for a couple seconds.

A sound, like someone trying to turn on a lighter,
that flick sound, I heard it. And then KABOOM!!
a bolt of lightning travels through the air,
the sound waves traveling heavy and strong
through my ears.

I stand there thinking quickly as my mind
processes the situation. I watch in slow
motion the players on the baseball field
running away.

Same goes for the tennis players.
My eyes slowly move up and fix themselves
on the pink sky on the horizon and then,
just as slow, they look up and see a dark cloud
with eyes beaming at me,  paralyzing me.

As I regain my senses, I put my hood on,
and continue to walk. And to think that all
the emotions I felt, all the adreneline building
inside of me, I felt in just seconds.