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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3f1x05aOY
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1dDYep3TW
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOmc2mw4Yr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpifbbeI05
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyVED7NFw8
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8Bz9ZUQS5
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZcVsYRi9N
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgXufGM4Lx
I was in clear sight of them now. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJo3kvcXLX
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvMGh6mgGn
"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1e0gLrycV
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN1YLzQ4A2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEAoRMvT0j
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C7fedrbK5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH5j2xpeh9
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYanoOowtD
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VLbW7HwXl
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKAd4adH8b
I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlSVfvdOrC
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtTIqdQYzB
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXyYDHS4eJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03hdYrv2Ca
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3AbQUa7rJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0yuAnIe07
"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!" 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLlrwuoQCI
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhe0cu9mux
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdba8I57igx
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVuDuMnqUL
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgFCGXSjhG
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriLaMBs0m4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEQnFljZrP
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qs6Cwt70Z
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtEOXKfa8C
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxQRIYc8Iy
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0a5myVL6Q
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVQBOzxlNS
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMlR0YZr68
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FrtEb19xn
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhbNcaJ7li
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wQJYfCuHT
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHnk1ebyF0
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ofEkOFOv
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0sjIjTViJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4kxixIaWV
"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." 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsptHz0G16
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GmuMsQG6s
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7kAfNJZq4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcibgGuEwS
"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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EToxvqKXa
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBDweFGhLJ
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xXm1m4EIw
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wmPAaZcpp
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxrOq4PFUw
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eYgb8voMg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOe9IGPcxl
"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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiCEXLHrzK
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBloZAWfOG2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrU24wPREw
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7LHSUoMWe
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7uSJfwTcM
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5ywOxTnAJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudTDhhhx5K
I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVVR9sYX9B
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdiYM50I2F
"More please" I pointed.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqBYGWEn2w
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXajaVgO5EZ
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhqNjwubOj
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyCw83DZ6N
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDHjBPfcto
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6Fh8jVbi4
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g5t2y6oCz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5km2qdJXrc
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUQw4Vc2Vn
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO5gahUqKf
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNxXADMvpN
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJJ99Ud59O
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j2VsVRgRz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmMlgglnRZ
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKiUPTg7by
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPh0bXoH4E
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDyVr27SDg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntLgQswrDf
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Lwa3BTSn
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdJzCchvPl
"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." 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKBL6GjyAr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsvzyyjtbN
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64x6Io2smU
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMTRJKOMBc
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew9J5UDyvj
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveU1jAZd08
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxX1vmisJl
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxEn4ZCb2I
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm7cUAMmIW
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbVj6Z2YbW
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP7XAs4RBK
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNizCkTLyK
Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P5EzGkGLt
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I60CeSCcu
I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwIOfL38LL
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGxpwKydey
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6iBq2lQ95
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfVcmnXRa0
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiQfiXZ1JP
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhffBrp8BU
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBxdI3itHd
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsGpSI22Ph
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0F09Q0vY7
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrexD8toEd
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh6vPbUyIv
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? 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu7oCrYP55
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc4p46QbPu
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYTaPdtOFg
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. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCg8biex3J
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYwS62L8AC
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQDGSdU7fV
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCcoVNWmqn
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DcENsyioO
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCdiXa1ySS
One day...
Penana
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