Twice-Told
Fullmetal Alchemist © Arakawa Hiromu, et al.
Ed saw the girl as she walked out of a flower shop, wiping her palms on her apron. When a St. Bernard who had been sitting on the sidewalk trotted up to her, she reached out and patted him on the head. Seeing Ed, who had stopped and looked, she grinned at him, a little doubtfully.
"Nice dog," he said. "What's his name?" He already knew the answer, and was not sure why he was stupid enough to want confirmation.
She gave him the dog's name. "You like dogs, mister?" she asked, bright and idly curious.
"They don't always like me. He's been with you for long?"
"He's been with me since he was born." The dog nosed her on the stomach, and the girl went on, "I'd like us to stay together for ever and ever. But my dad says dogs live shorter lives than people do, so he may already be pretty old when I'm all grown up."
Instead of the anticipated clenching in his guts, Ed felt nothing more than a small, hot stone inside his chest. "Yeah, well, people - and animals - go their separate ways all the time. It's not pleasant, but that's how things work."
The girl tilted her head to one side. "My dad said the same thing once. Though it was more about how there's a price to pay when you go against the course of nature. Guess I'll understand it better when I'm older."
"Your dad - he's the guy who owns this shop? He's a florist?"
"The best in town. You want to come in and buy something from us?"
The stone was melting, but very slowly. "Maybe next time."
"Okay." All traces of solemnity gone, the girl bent down and told the dog that she must get back to work. Then she waved at Ed. "Bye, mister."
"Take care."
After she disappeared back into the shop, Ed resumed walking. This world, in some ways, was better than the one he had left behind. He would not trade the latter for the former, not even for the peace and the hindsight. Rather, he chose to believe in second chances, and that there were those who deserved them more than he did.