"So, you're leaving soon?", Saoirse asked in a quiet, sad voice.
"You both knew I would not be able to stay on Earth indefinitely. I believe I will only be able to stay here a couple more months."
Amanda looked like she was about to cry.
"I will make arrangements so that you will have money to cover my rent until you can find someone else to stay here. And you can always sell some of my things, if you need more money to cover costs."
Amanda was crying now.
"No. We won't sell any of your stuff!", exclaimed Saoirse.
"You may as well. You know I can't bring any of it with me. Of course, you can keep whatever you'd like, as a memento of me."
Now Saoirse was crying too.
"Oh! I can't stand to see the two of you cry! You're making me even sadder."
Tears started down my face too.
"I will miss both of you, so, so much! My leaving is very bittersweet. The homesickness is as deep as the sorrow of leaving you.".
I hugged both of them to me. "If I stay, I will be sad. If I leave you, I will be sad."
With a sad smile I brushed some of Saoirse's hair out of her eyes.
"I love you both, my sisters. No matter where I am, that will never change. I hope you know that. I also know that I can't be selfish and stay here. I am needed back at home."
"We love you too." Saoirse said.
"We will always be sisters, no matter what!", Amanda insisted.
"We will never forget you and will think of you often.", promised Saoirse.
I smiled at them lovingly. "I know all that, because you are wonderful."
The three of us spent the rest of the day watching movies and T.V shows together. We piled all the pillows and blankets we had on the living room floor, making a fort of comfort.
We made café mochas and ate tons of comfort food. It was a day I would always remember with a smile.
The next day, I woke up with a smile at the sound of my alarm.
'Finally, I'm starting the morning off right.', I thought.
I hurried to turn the alarm off and begin my morning routine of getting ready to go run and train. I made sure to set the alarm for earlier than usual so that I could do what I needed and still go job searching at a reasonable hour.
As I finished getting dressed, I remembered that I had forgot to hard boil any eggs.
'Great, now the fox will be disappointed.', I thought.
As I brushed and braided my hair, somehow my thoughts drifted from the fox to the wolf.
'Goodness! What am I thinking of him for? It's not like I am going to see him anytime soon, anyways!', I thought as I shook my head, dismissing any further thoughts.
By the time I got downstairs and opened the fridge to get a glass of juice, I got pleasantly surprised. One of my roommates had boiled eggs last night and then put them in the fridge for me once they had cooled.
I smiled. Now I would have eggs for the fox after all!
I felt much affection for my thoughtful friends as I packed the container of eggs and other necessities into my bag. They were always so dependable.
I looked at the time as I gulped down my juice, then located my keys.
Once I was ready, I went out the door, locking it behind me. I performed my usual reality distortion spell and levitation spell, and then ran towards the road.
As I ran my usual route, I thought about all the places I could apply to for a job and what order I would hand out applications in.
I knew that most places wanted people to submit their applications electronically. But I felt that there was a chance if I handed in a copy personally, the manager might better remember the gal who took the time to hand one in in person. Maybe it would even allow them to 'put a face to a name', so to speak.
My plan was to apply both in person and electronically, in order to double my chances at each business.
As I ran, I absentmindedly waved to the farm animals.
I soon reached my secret entrance to the park. I jogged down a ways, until my energetic fox friend appeared. With a smile and a giggle, I greeted him by rubbing his belly, while he wagged his tail at me, chattering all the while.
Then a moment later, I motioned to him with my hand, and we were off, jogging down the path again. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound up ahead. I slowed to a walk and the fox came to a dead stop.
Out of the undergrowth and brush popped a wolf. But not just any wolf, it was 'Wolf', or rather a werewolf called 'Alpha David'. He turned his head towards me, and it had a large, toothy grin.
I knew I looked as surprised as I felt.
'Why is he here?', I wondered. 'There is no reason for him to be here.'
David quietly padded up to where I stood. I felt his mind reaching for mine. I allowed it.
'Good morning! What are you just standing there for? Let's go.', he said through mind- link.
Part of me was still a little shocked and confused.
'Good morning?', I thought.
David started running down the path. I looked at the shocked expression also on the fox's face.
"Well, let's go then.", I said to the fox with a shrug.
Then it was all of us running down the path, up to the road that bisected it, where we paused momentarily to peek around. Once decided that the coast was clear, we were off again, all the way to the clearing.
In the clearing, I undid my spells, then I opened my bag and brought out the container of hard-boiled eggs and my water bottle.
The fox vocalized excitedly at the thought of the eggs, and David came and sat near me. I took a quick swig of water from my water bottle.
"Here you go!", I said handing an egg to the fox, who took it gingerly from me and then rushed a small distance away to devour it.
I turned my head to look at David. 'Don't tell me that you want some eggs too?', I thought to him in a teasing tone.
I could hear him laugh boisterously. 'Of course, I do. I am often constantly hungry.'
As he looked at me mischief sparkled in his wolf eyes. 'I think I will take the eggshells off this time, though.', he teasingly thought.
It was my turn to laugh.
"You have a wolf's paws, and no apposable thumbs. So how exactly do you plan on doing that?".
I stuck my tongue at him. "Do you expect me to peel them? Because I won't."
He laughed again. 'No. I will peel them myself. I'll be back in a minute.', he said with his mind.
David walked away into the tree line of the clearing. I thought about doing a reality distortion spell to keep any accidental onlookers away, but then decided against it. David would most likely hear them long before I did, and he would keep them away.
'Why is he here?', I thought to myself.
'He's an alpha. Surely, he has much more important things to do with his time. But he is here. Maybe he feels the need to keep an eye on me. Maybe he still feels I am a threat.'
Then, my eyes registered movement. I looked in that direction and saw David re-entering the clearing.
This time he was in his human form. He was dressed in shorts and sandals. David saw me looking at him and he waved.
'He came here with a hidden stash of clothes.', I thought to myself.
'Wait!'. A sudden thought just registered in my brain. 'How did he know to come here so early? I came earlier today than I usually do.'
David sat down beside me. The fox returned and I gave him a second egg.
"Can I have one now?", David asked teasingly.
I said nothing, just handed him a boiled egg, which he proceeded to peel.
"Here.", I said laying both the container and the lid beside him. "I need to get started."
I walked a little distance off from where he sat and prayed to the Great Goddess of All. I didn't know David's reasons for sticking around me and suspecting his mistrust, I prayed for protection.
Once I was done, I pulled out my pocketknife. After the drop of blood fell to the earth, I put the knife away once again. Feeling unease nest into the pit of my stomach, I began exercising.