Just Walk Away...

I woke slowly, not wanting to let go of the dream that held me close, blowing soft breath into my fur. Finally, I couldn't fight it anymore, and opened my eyes, expecting to see an empty space where he had lain, just like every time before. But instead, I looked into a pair of indescribable eyes, glittering with amusement, and a faint undefinable something that he would never explain, and I would never bother asking him to.

"Why are you still here?" I asked, confused, and faintly hopeful. "I expected you to be gone before first light, like always."

He chuckled. "I would have, but you seem to have wrapped yourself around me. Every time I tried to move, you held on tighter and starting growling." He pointed down to where I did indeed have one of my legs folded over his, and even my tail was lightly draped around him. Reluctantly, I released him, knowing he would leave when I did, but still hoping he would stay.

He sat up and reached under the bed, collecting his clothes. Somehow they always made it into a neat and clean pile, no matter the circumstances of their discarding. I watched him get dressed, tears gradually filling my eyes. Finally he rose, seeking his boots and noticed the tears. "What's wrong?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I don't want you to leave," I murmured, the tears coming faster.

"Yet, I don't see you trying to stop me," he said as he leaned closer.

I wiped a paw across my face. "Wouldn't matter," I said. "You wouldn't stay even if I did."

"You're right about that," he chuckled as he stood back up. "Glad to see you've learned something from me." He finished pulling on his boots, then paused and looked around, as if making sure he had everything he had arrived with, which was a stupid idea, because I had the feeling that he knew where every little thing of his was every single moment of time it was not in its usual place. "Well, I should be leaving."

I couldn't stand it anymore. I rose up and threw my arms around him in a hug, holding him as tightly as I could. "Please," I whispered, every last shred of dignity I had tried to hold onto cast to the ether. "I... I love you." He paused, hesitation in his action and in his eyes as he looked down at me. Then he chuckled again, and I knew my last weapon had failed.

He lifted one hand and ruffled the fur between my ears, and action I hated, that he knew I hated, yet he still did anyway, and I never stopped him. The motion stopped, and the hand went to my ear, lightly tugging it, gently forcing my head to turn. His other hand reached up, giving my face a long caress from jaw to chin, causing me to shiver and close my eyes. He lifted my muzzle, then waited until I opened my eyes.

"See you around kid," he said softly. Then he turned around, and walked away. He didn't look back.