I. Leaving behind
I. Leaving behind
As told by Milo
Monday morning. Contrary to Nina, I liked Mondays. They marked the start of yet another five days of regularity and structure, something I had craved for ever since I lived on my own. This Monday was different from the previous dozen, though. The winter break had started, meaning two full weeks during which my presence at the university was not required.
Still, I had gotten up relatively early, partly because I needed to be on time, but mostly because I was excited and anxious at the same time. Nina's parents had invited me to spend Midwinter at their place, since I was her boyfriend and this was her first serious relationship.
We were travelling to Nina's parents in Sandshire by train, a trip that would take about two and a half hours from Northshore. Initially, we anticipated leaving around noon, but we eventually decided on departing at a little past nine in the morning. Like most people, Nina's family had the tradition of giving each family member a present during the Midwinter festival. However, she had not managed to find something for her younger brother yet, but she knew a shop in Sandshire that sold the particular item she had in mind.
Nina had gone back to her dorm the evening before to make sure she would pack everything she needed. I, on the other paw, did not need to take that much with me, since we would only stay for one night. I did need a rather large duffel bag, though, as I insisted on taking Sharra with me. Sleeping in an unknown bed has always been a little hard for me, let alone if I would have to miss my faithful shark plushie.
Of course, I packed a couple of diapers as well. Never go with just one, that's asking for trouble. Some changing supplies, my sleeper, a change of clothes and a few other items and I was good to go. However, I would not be leaving without having consumed the most important meal of the day.
Nina and I had agreed to meet at the train station and I had to hurry. Even though I liked Mondays, I am still not much of a morning person. Therefore, I ended up at the station ten minutes later than I had planned, since I had failed to catch the bus to the station.
Buying a ticket did not go very smoothly either, as the person before me in the line took his time to do whatever he had to. Afraid I would not manage to catch the right train either, I ran to the platform as fast as I could. Not that it would matter much, since Nina would wait for me and we could easily board another train, but a gentleman does not make his lady wait.
There she was, sitting on a metal bench, her paws clenched to one another. Despite her thicker fur, she was still cold. But then again, I had crossed the entire station hall and had body warmth to spare. As I came closer to the dog I loved, I noticed that she was holding her stuffed sheep Pam in her arms as well. In addition, she was wearing the collar that once belonged to my mother. While reluctant at first, she eventually began to like the adorned leather neckwear.
She did not hear my pawsteps on the pavement of the platform, because the train entered the station while I ran towards her. My hastening had paid off, since I would have surely been too late otherwise. Nina finally noticed me and got on her paws, putting Pam on the bench so she would have her hands free to hug me.
I affectionately licked her on the cheek as a way of greeting, after which she said that we had to board the train if we did not want it to leave without us. Putting her money where her muzzle was, she picked up her bag with one hand and held on to one of mine with the other. Together, we entered the train and sat down at the nearest available spot.
Just as the doors of the wagon closed and the engine powered up again, Nina looked outside. She then remembered that she had forgotten something... rather important.
"Pam..." Nina said, not really sure about what emotion to accompany her comment with.
"What about her?" I asked.
"I... I left her on the bench..." she replied, looking down.
I looked outside the window, just catching a glimpse of the bench where Nina had waited for me. In the second it took, I noticed a young feline girl picking up the plushie.
"Milo, what do I do?"
"I don't know," I commented with a hint of defeat.
"But... Pam is... she's my little sheep."
She let out a soft whimper.
"I'm sorry for you, princess, but I can't get her back for you."
Nina softly cried for a while, during which I remained silent. Even though I had been a littlefur for half of my life, I had no idea how to console a twenty-something-year-old that had just lost her stuffed sheep.
"I'll figure something out for you, Nina."
"But how? I'm not getting Pam back," she said sniffling.
"Trust me, Nina. I know how hard it is to lose something you love," I whispered.
The Mountain Dog looked at me, her eyes slightly red from crying.
"Besides, you'll always have me, right?"
"B-but.. I's can't cuddle wif you when I's go nite-nite," she whispered back in her puppy voice.
I smiled.
"Not when we're at your parents' place, that is. Like I said, I'll figure something out."
We spent the rest of the trip mostly in comfortable silence, staring through the window. For Nina, the landscape was familiar, as she travelled back to her parents every other week, but I had never been to any place near Sandshire and was therefore seeing the surroundings for the first time.
After a good two hours and three short stops at intermediate stations, we finally reached Sandshire Central Station, which was covered in a fine layer of snow. From there, it would take us a little while longer to actually reach Nina's place, which was situated at the edge of the town, but we needed to be in the central district anyway.
Being a gentleman, I got Nina's bag from the luggage rack and handed it to her with a faint smile.
"It'll be okay, Nina. I'm here for you."