My long nails wrapped around the old wooden boards of the train tracks buried amongst layers of grey gravel. The steel beams running either side were boiled under the sun slowly cooking them and my own body. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3sbAtrco2
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqcoFfQE8x
The sky was clear, as it had been for a week now, with not a grey cloud in the sky. It was the perfect temperature too. The air was cool but not cold enough to freeze me or hot enough to choke me. It was pleasant to idle in on my wander to the house in the distance. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbXRovKNXA
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsbOq8CxUG
I kept my eyes locked on the tracks running as far as the eye could see through overgrown fields of grass that rippled like water in the breeze. My pace turned to excited running and my heart gripped at my chest when I saw a flash of orange and blue emerge from the house in the distance. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqEEl0hC5E
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXykzndXv8H
I bounded over the river and paused on the other side where people were moving across the empty road to the shops lined either side. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtuzQiyz44
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1GSKwEg65
I was in clear sight of them now. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI8SRygXe2
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF84Szo6G8Y
"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgKWEdhfZD
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3v7OdBN7e
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezju7yIoqr
A portly man approached the tracks as quick as his waddling body allowed, placing distance between us so he could squint in the direction of the house. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKDbwaZ91A
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Aj06TW7ll
He was the news agency owner here. His balding head with a halo of grey hair and leathery skin once roughed by laborious work in his youth was easily distinguishable. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkqy9jWnOI
His corner-shop was only a few meters from the tracks so he could have the time to waddle out each afternoon I made my appearance to make himself known. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy0q7ZKUka
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzV9C9MmQst
I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡninccyvZKz
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6w92qgt4r
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xjbS5O2ZK
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPgYzjWc3f
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QscpQ6By3
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEkwUiWHgf
"You be good to her, Soup, you hear?" he scowled and waved a finger to me "I'll know if you do anything to her!" 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlGK19tMFw
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5xojtNZlj
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfarXmIYmin
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhoXIzyiWQ
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhVCQUIJwI
I was smitten with her. She was so kind and had this wonderful light voice that was rougher around the edges. She had the most adorable freckles painted on her face and a lovely round body that she liked to swamp in knitted jumpers or flowing dresses she made. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI8IOqzU1r
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tOIDL1Jza
When her features began to form on the figure bobbing closer into focus, I grinned wildly and pushed myself to sprint for her laughing face bent down to search for me through the sea of grass. I swam through it to break through to her open gate held back for me. Her scooter was heaved back into its stand here too. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ3I5VgQ89
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoFM1IcTae
Missy stood on the wooden stairs to her porch hugging the front half of her little wooden home. It was a very cost place made entirely of old wood painted in a muted green. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva6yJUOfps
It had herbs growing in the windows glimpsing into her sewing room in the left where she had spools of fabric hung on the wall next to her machine and dotted cloth mannequins. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefKbdvkKtH
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JHxFXPK7J
Her right window had parts of her kitchen on show. I had peered into it a few times when I had been too eager to wait, watching her cook on her gas oven nestled within stone countertops while she shooed me away with a smile. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBcBDt81BT
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNrbdASm59
Missy had the window wide open to waft out the smell of the food she had been cooking. The rich beef spiralled around the earthy tones of stock and tangy herbs freshly plucked from her windows. I could smell the carrots and buttery pumpkin I knew were harvested from her garden nestled out the back. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjGvu4zwuS
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeHYmqBcHj
That's how we had met. I had been raiding her gardens at night before she caught me and chased me off. After a few nights of futile attempts to stop me, and several vegetables left discarded in my escape, she started offering me her leftovers before it became proper meals. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxXf1cQ0Bf
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYnCDSstsj
She didn't know what to call me, so she called me Soup. It was her favourite thing to feed me, and the easiest on her budget made selling homemade dresses. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCpAlvdtDQ
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtakIiWcYRn
"Soup!" Missy cooed down to me waiting at the bottom of her stairs "I missed you! I'll grab your food. I think you'll like it today." 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz6g66H8x1
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8tHXShM9z
I liked how her voice rose excitedly when she saw me. It sounded like she was greeting a lifelong pet dear to her heart. I didn’t mind that; I was just glad she loved me so dearly to put this much effort into caring for me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtsndpWE3o
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rpt9czNjs
"Beef soup with my own vegetables and the local meat. I cooked it with teriyaki before putting it in" Missy exclaimed as she returned carrying two stone bowls and carefully placing one down on the grass for me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ky1VAsGW8
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IaeG1RR7e
My mouth was watering when I saw the mixture of colours beside me. Steam spiralled from the fresh meal Missy set down so she could fan out her checkered blue and white dress to sit on the stairs. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvjh3HFeZG
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjBYTt511S
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxXy3KCNNe
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTenjl65Es
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTBvhb2kJU
"Thank you" I grinned to her and wrapped my hands around the hot bowl so I could lift myself onto my legs and drink it down. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SGBuO1sMW
Soup spilled down my chest to burn trails down my skin before I could swipe then up. The chunks of beef were chewy and wedged between my teeth. The bitter teriyaki coated all its layers to bring out the meaty flavour. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fbBkWu1xj
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPMsUoyqKQ
It was the cheap meat again. I don't think Missy could afford anything like the ones that fell from the bone or had soft marbles of fat throughout rather than thick coats. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVx2GGDxkV
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCYvAtFiSA
She grinned and watched me try to keep my balance as I felt the meal burn a new hole in my stomach that growled for more. My legs trembled, not used to being so relied upon when I had all four of my limbs to power me effortlessly now. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRXtZ2WyVT
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvphMlzQjh4
I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mb5QE4Zaz
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPWNCxCg0f
"More please" I pointed.330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLbvT27Lfn
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQFPrVv6p4
She couldn't understand me but smiled like she had. All she heard were the same noises I did whenever I spoke in this form. It was just a mixture of growls and low snaps that I preferred to keep quiet, so I didn't scare her. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnm62vcJi6
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmAGEyEKLw
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24JMTvVv5g
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkfE6DjHWr
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUFOilrFl9
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXWcxxXj2g
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbopoGF23e
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhLIr97zfu
Missy was the type of person I would grow old with as a human. I often let my mind wander to what we could be if I hid behind my skin again as a human and tried to form a relationship with her in this home built for two. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3F5OO8sfC
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkCtcpOoRO
Despite having a sunny personality and being loved in town, Missy liked her quiet life. She didn't want her heart to be broken or taken advantage of. She was worried she was too poor to ever please a man or mother children. She hated that she was too scared to reach out and form those connections. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrc67sKKZF
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm0RLEFYi6
She liked me because I was an animal to her. I had no commitments other than one hot meal a day. I wasn't going to make her sad or upset her simple lifestyle with big ambitions. I didn't drain her trickling budget or offer anything outside the trinkets of lost belongings or junk I presented her with. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgkpqSfWrS
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GWTqsW1tp
I didn't want to ruin that. I kept in this form and didn't dare to try and act on my daydreams of being accepted into her life as her partner with open arms. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNLpA5p8of
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDpnzVLwFh
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYwrzABO3w
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5MSjVN1cS
"Here we go!" Missy returned from the house along with two slices of crusty sourdough she had pushed into the bowl "buttered it for you too, you greedy guts. I'm surprised you didn't eat mine." 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjNYpmbTmc
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ze4s8hR8L
I was lucky to have her. She was too kind to be so afraid of life itself. Missy deserved more than it was handing her.330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuJep54Ala
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL83bWGXm35
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkESiOrm3bg
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLjcwFY25S
I could feel the warmth of it leaking down my front from the inside and bubble in my gut gurgling from so much liquid drowning it at once. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaM6Sej4pc
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3logOSlFN
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdK6Q3VnWp
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQISNP6aqP
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlW3b17xBN
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTPgnV9mqD
Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5aC8H9mBd
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28Klw4Tr3b
I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuRqTofqht
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngb3nVq010
I stared up at the moon nestled in amongst the glittering stars from my grassy ledge curved over several meters from the tracks behind me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd60qzVDMA
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRdfWrYLMH
The field surrounding me was dancing with wildflowers that stirred at the touch of glowing fireflies blinking through the air like showers of floating embers. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaH1oax4MS
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo66dEQE0Ux
They flitted like fire in the cool air and amongst the flowers. The fireflies reached for the stars themselves and I watched them ascend to the dusted void above. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8tuwcYvv3
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ0E9zY6J3
It was so peaceful here with only the moonlight basking over the land. There was no artificial glow of streetlights or the sound of cars screeching on tar. The only sound piercing through the silence was the scraping of metal as the train thundered by on its nightly route to distant towns. Each lit window slashed over the grass below, reminding me of the loud and bright reality amongst the dark serenity until it was gone again. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0Otq9stcp
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvsri75FUg
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S2TkUrRG2
I wonder if she just stopped to stare at the beauty of the moon too. Maybe she sewed in her room while wondering about things beyond her reach like I did? 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F7w12s3uJ
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlQz2n2exn
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjaJ44HzNU
The soft grass would be my bed tonight. Usually, I roamed for food or trash on the roadside for several kilometres to try and salvage something until sleep sapped my energy and I collapsed wherever I was. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S1T83Kfbl
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvwhMeRmlv
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadMBHNbDf9
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28ilUAytSd
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu9PK1bTUj
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5Vh6ubV6t
One day...8964 copyright protection326ＰＥＮＡＮＡaniVz9x00U 維尼

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