Rollo is there. Watching. Ludger is about to cry. He knows the signs. It's like that day years ago. Ludger is crouched over him and his clothes are heavy with rainwater and his tears wet Rollo's fur. It's cold and thunder cracks overhead as Julius turns into the alleyway, face fraught with worry that melts into relief as Ludger comes into his line of vision.
Julius… Ludger doesn't think he understands. But he knows. He can feel it. It isn't like the times Julius works late, or goes out shopping for ingredients for tonight's dinner, or gets caught up talking with someone on the streets. Julius won't come back. Not this time.
Rollo stares and tilts his head. Ludger grasps Elle's hand and kisses her hair and lets the tears spill over. A second later and she's gone. In the blink of an eye. Rollo dips his head and meows, long and slow. Ludger's tears fall into empty space.