The Closed Umbrella in the Rain

Chapter 1 — The Calm in the Storm
Rain. Thunder. Car horns blaring. Antoine stands still, umbrella closed, soaked to the bone.
Everyone else runs. He doesn’t. He looks up, breathes in. For the first time in months, he lets go.

At the office, it’s the same chaos. Understaffed teams. Piles of urgent work. Antoine works harder, always, sacrificing his life, his health, his joy.

Chapter 2 — Memories of Laughter
He remembers the laughter. Claire and Julien, sharing coffee, absurd emails, little jokes.
Once, work had been easy, almost joyful. Now, even a smile seems impossible.

Chapter 3 — The Breaking Point
One morning, Julien misaddresses an important letter. Claire snaps:
"I’m not your social worker!"
Antoine watches, stunned. The colleagues who once laughed together now verge on conflict over a single mistake.

Chapter 4 — The Rainfall Revelation
And then, the rain. Antoine stops. Umbrella closed. Shoulders relax.
For the first time, he does not fight. He accepts. He surrenders. Just him. Just the sky.

Chapter 5 — Small Steps to Letting Go
The next day: no emails after 6 PM. Urgent tasks? Not all his responsibility anymore.
He helps, gently, but doesn’t exhaust himself.
He rediscovers walks in the forest with his wife. The smells, the light, the breeze. Life awakens again.

Chapter 6 — The Positive Shock
One morning, he meets his boss:
— “Antoine…?”
— “I resign.”
— “Why?!”
— “I can’t carry everything alone. Not for you, not for me. I have other projects.”
The boss freezes, then smiles through understanding:
— “You’re right… I need to hire. Thank you for opening my eyes.”

Chapter 7 — After the Rain
Back at the office, Claire and Julien laugh again. New hires arrive. The atmosphere changes.
Antoine walks in the forest, hand in hand with his wife.
Rain drips on his face. And he knows: he has truly let go. Free at last.