Moving

So much for sleep when your brain causes you to time-jump. Lucky for me, I know I can head right to Uncle Milford's and rest for a bit before figuring out what I need to do next. My feet and legs are heavy with exhaustion as I move. Down the street, I reach my vacation home. Uncle Milford is outside, talking to Bessie. Nothing out of the norm.

"Stephanie!" Milford greets me with open arms. After a quick hug, he excitedly says, "We have so much to tell you."

"Oh yes," Bessie adds, "you've missed a lot while you were back home."

Already this is different from the first time this day happened.

Without a chance to speak, Milford continues to ramble on. "Remember the act that came with the acrobatics? Well, after Robbie ruined such a good show – no offense to you who partook in that catastrophe – The Fortune Teller came back permanently. She is right outside of town, where the gas station is off of the highway. Says she has amazing clientele there. We threw a little welcome party for her since technically that is part of Lazytown. Oh, and Robbie is finally moving far, far away from us . . . finally."

"Are you really that surprised about Robbie moving?" Bessie asks. With my jaw-dropped, I'm sure she wants a reason for my shocked expression.

I don't know where to begin. "Moving? Lorna is here permanently? No. I . . . I prevented her from . . . When is Robbie leaving? Why is he leaving? Why am I asking you?"

I drop my bag and run. I run so hard my heart punches my ribcage as if they are in an MMA fight together. For the time being, I don't care about Lorna. She can suck an egg. My Robbie cannot leave. He cannot leave me here in this wasted town of hollow bodies. My heart and lungs can't keep up with the rate I want to run. I have never beat the ground so hard in my life. Finally, I reach the Billboard in a lonely field where I nearly collapse. Littered among the field are various items, one of which was an orange chair.

Tears well up.

"Pinky?" Robbie emerges from a pile of boxes. "What are you doing here?"

Panting, I try to speak. "You. Oh my God, I can't breathe. Hold on. Huh-huh. Why are you moving?"

Puzzled by my wet cheeks and sweaty, hot pink face, Robbie questions if I'm alright. He approaches me cautiously, as if afraid by my presence.

I stand up straight and take one more long breath. "I'm sorry I seriously raced across time to get here." Hah. I smirk. "Please tell me you're joking. You can't leave. I'd never see you again."

Taken aback, Robbie's face flushes a soft rosy hue. "My Dear, I'm not allowed here anymore. Some stupid lady convinced Sportacus that one of my inventions would blow all of Lazytown up. He won't stop getting in my business now. Even worse than before. Face it, I'm too old for this. Sportacus wins, the end. Enough is enough."

My actions are too sudden to prevent. I throw myself at Robbie, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and burying my face in his chest. I'm pathetic. I feel his hand pat my back. His body begins to tremble. I pull away embarrassed by my lack of composure. More tears are fighting their way out through my staggered breathing.

"Um," Robbie stifles a nervous laugh, "Can we not do that again? I don't want cooties. Anyways, this fortune teller is ruining everyone's perspective on life. Sportacus probably made that prediction up just to turn everyone against me. Pinky, I have had my fair share of abuse. Why stay somewhere I'm not happy? And you left – That's right – you left that night without even a goodbye. I made you delicious tomato soup. Even you don't like me."

An electric shock explodes in my stomach and travels to my toes. My eyes are glossy and wide, staring into Robbie's dark specs. "I do like you, Robbie." Alright, even I would make fun of myself for the soft and almost wanting tone to my voice. I continue, "I had to leave that morning without you waking up. I was having a panic attack. But I . . . I missed you."

Honestly, screw messing with time. Let me be clear, Ladies and gents; Life is too damn short to hide your love away in a neat little sock drawer with the few that lay around waiting to be paired up again. Like a single sock, I do not want to lose the once-in-a-lifetime match that someone finally found behind a dust bunny under the couch. I want love. And I know he does too. If I am slow, I can be smart about this. After all, Lorna is somehow still here as the dust bunny blocking my way.

Robbie is closer to me. It is then that I notice a change in his eyes. "Stephanie, I wasn't mad that you left that morning. I was mad that you left Lazytown. I hate when you head back home. I'm not trying to be a big softy, but you are the only friend I have here. It's not good enough to stay in Lazytown just for the summer visits."

There it is: the small glimpse that Robbie cares for me. I sigh and feel my knees shaking a bit.

"What if I promised to visit more? I'm actually planning on staying for good once I have money for my own place. You expect things to get better by moving far away? There will always be a Sportacus who treats you like garbage. Chin up, Robbie. He can't run your life anymore. I – I will not allow it. You are my friend, and I stick up for my friends. Let me have a chat with him, alright? Please?"

Robbie smiles and nods. "Fine, but you've just elected to help me bring all this junk back in."

"Of course."

I'd say that was all and we lived happily forever whatever, but Lorna needs a swift kick in the ass.