Chapter 3
Where Roads Cross

Morning came and I was greeted with the sight of my mom sitting by my bed with dad sitting next to her. I had heard everything straight from them last night, but I still couldn't believe what they said. Mom lost her job? We we're only getting by because dad supported us?

"Fen you're awake." mom's voice greeted me with her normal kindness and soft tone

I winced when I remembered how much pain she hid behind that smile "Morning mom, where am I?" I asked to play off not hearing everything last night.

Mom took the time to explain everything to me, but left out the details of our financial condition. I could tell that she had very little sleep last night, the bags under her eyes said it all. That sight coupled with what I heard last night only made me feel more sorry for her and less angry at her from keep this a secret from me.

"Fen I'm sorry that you had to go through all that." she put her hand on mine, and when I winced she immediately pulled away

"Nah its fine mom." I tried to be as comforting as possible "Really I'm fine, besides I've always wanted a cool scar somewhere on my body. Now I'll really impress the ladies." With that joke I was able to get a laugh out of her, and I was relieved a little bit.

"Well then I'll be expecting a cute girl to be hanging by your arms by the time dinner roles around." At least my mom still could laugh, I took comfort in that.

Later the doctor came to give me my final check up, and gave mom some papers to sign. It still hurt to stand and walk but it was not as painful as when I first woke up. The doctor said that as much as possible I was to stay off walking or anything too strenuous.

When we got home mom gave me the couch and a pillow "I'm sorry we can't stay any longer but Al and I have to go to work. Remember if you need anything call me and I'll be there." she kissed my forehead then walked out the door

Once I was sure that mom and dad was gone I carefully and slowly got up. The pain was minimal I felt it, but I wasn't about to let that stop me from getting the answers I needed. Somewhere in mom's room was a drawer where she kept anything important. If I was going to find anything its going to be in there.

I got into her room with very little effort, since the only door mom and I ever locked was the front. Mom tended to be the organized type, so she kept everything where she knew she could find it. Its because of mom's habits that I was able to find her drawer so easily.

As I reached out to open the drawer I hesitated. Was I really sure I wanted to find all of this out? I could live the life of ignorance, just blissfully unaware of how my world was going to slowly crumble into dust. Echoes of mom and dad's conversation last night resounded in my head

"Its been two weeks."

"Al I made a promise."

"You're hurting Fen because you can't let him go."

I cleared my head and steeled my resolve. This was important and I needed to find out for myself if what they said was true. Grasping the handle tightly with my good hand I counted to three and pulled the drawer wide open.

Inside were all letters, and bank statements. One pile was dedicated to saying that mom's employers were sorry but they couldn't accept her in a chef position. Another was dedicated to telling mom that she had some money due. I couldn't believe my eyes, mom was keeping all this from me?

I slowly closed the drawer and fell to my knees crushed by disbelief. Mom was going through all this and yet she still wanted to keep her promise to me even if it meant more work for her to deal with. Why? No, none of this could be true, none of this was real. I refused to believe any of the evidence laid out in front of me. This was all an elaborate trick designed to get me to freak out.

Out of nowhere the land line in the hall, next to the kitchen rang aloud causing me to flinch. I quickly reorganized the letters and statements into their proper places to cover up any evidence that I was even here. With my tracks erased I made my way to the land line and picked it up

"H-Hello?" I asked nervously

The voice that answered back was strict and rough "Yes, is Ms Rodriguez currently at home? She's not answering her cellphone." What did this guy want with mom?

"Uh no she's not here, but I'll be happy to take a message." I answered masking my frustration

"Unfortunately we cannot accept her into our restaurant, as we are now sufficiently supplied with chefs. Please tell her I send my deepest regrets and wish her luck in the future. Good day."

"Wait-

I felt an all too familiar weight pressed onto my back as I slowly sank to my knees. My mom was struggling to provide for me and herself, and all I ever did was just stay home and benefit from being her pet. She fed me when she could have used that money to feed herself, she spent time with me when she could have used it to look for a new job. I didn't deserve anything she gave me, I didn't deserve the kindness she was showing me.

I wish I could do something to help, I wish I wasn't such a burden to her, but there wasn't anything that I could do. Pets were hired to do minor jobs like distribute the news paper, mow the lawn, and other easy to do jobs. The problem was that no one would trust me when they see me because of these accursed fangs. It took two months for owners to even allow their pets anywhere near me and even then I still set them on unease.

Dad's words to mom replayed itself in my head against my will.

"He's another mouth to feed."

"If you can't support him you need to let Fen go."

Those words, no matter how much I wanted to deny them, I have to admit that they held some weight. He was right I was just a burden, another mouth to feed, and mom didn't need something like me dragging her down.

I know what must be done now. Mom would never do it, and I love her for that, but I need to be the one who does the right thing. There was no way I was going to go back to that miserable life in the shelter, but there was another way. I could live the life of a stray, it wouldn't be glorious, it would leave me starved, but I just can't go back to that life of walls and cages.

That night mom came home tired but smiling, without a trace of dad anywhere nearby. I looked at her and put on a smile

"Mom is there anything wrong?" "I lied, I knew exactly what was wrong

"Oh Fen, its nothing." she ruffled my head and made her way towards the kitchen "I just got home from a long day of work, and right now I need some food for myself."

"Alright what's for dinner?" I walked by her side as she made her way to the kitchen

"I already ordered pizza, should be on its way here."

"By the way mom where's dad?"

"He said he was going to sleep in his apartment tonight."

"Okay so it'll be like old times. Just you and me."

"Yeah like old times."

Once the pizza arrived, we set it on the dinner table and got our fair share of slices. I tried not to think about how much this cost her this time, so I concentrated on my food. Our silence reminded me of our first night together in this house. I was uneasy being out for the first time, afraid I'd wake up and find it was a dream. To get me to calm down mom had to put my head on her lap and sang a lullaby.

I could tell that she was lost in thought, she didn't even notice I was here as she chowed on her pizza slices. Since I was about to leave I just wanted to hear that song one more time. I savored what would probably be my only decent meal in a long while but finished it before she did. Slowly I made my way to mom's side, and rested my head on her lap.

She flinched when she noticed me, but I pretended not to care "Hey mom remember that lullaby you sang to me on my first night here?"

"Y-Yes, why?" she said holding back her tears

"Could you sing it to me?" I yawned "I just really miss that song."

"Of course Fen, anything for you."

She and I closed our eyes at the same time as mom began her lullaby. The song started out powerful, but slow as the words smoothly flowed out like a gentle breeze. I could hear her sincerity with each word put together in solemn harmony, but I still felt the happiness flowing from her words. Mom's love was put into the very song, and I could hear the lyrics direct themselves towards me.

Time itself was functioning in reverse as I saw the time we spent together flash by scene by scene. Christmas was when she gave me a skateboard and my first time time to get a cast since I broke my arm trying to learn how to use the darn thing. Thanksgiving, that day I tried to cook for the first time, mom couldn't hold it in and puked, she and I still laughed anyway. Halloween was the time when mom and I played with my name as I glued more fur on my body and pretended to be Fenrir himself while she was a huntsman, we got so many stares that night but I couldn't care we had so much fun and candy. April Fool's day was when me and mom waged pie war on the entire pet population of our village it was a pain to clean up but totally worth it. Valentines day was the day I watched mom kiss dad underneath the fireworks, I saw how she smiled when they broke the kiss, I swore to myself that I'd never forget it ever.

Her words and song erased my doubt and steeled my resolve. I was reminded my reasons for why I was going to run away. Mom would be sad and hurt, but it needed to be done. I wasn't going to be the reason why she was suffering so much, and if it meant that she would have an easier life I would do it for her. She deserves so much more than me.

Mom's song ended and she stroked my head fur once more. She must have thought I fell asleep since she carried me to my room and tucked me in. Mom gave me one more kiss on the forehead before she went to her room.

After the door closed shut I slowly rose up and undid the blue collar mom had given me a long time ago. I took a few moments to look at it before I put it down and took a piece of paper and began a letter.

I told mom not to worry, I was not kidnapped and that I went off to be alone. Every word I wrote hurt whenever I think about how much this would hurt mom when she read it. Again I told myself it needed to be done, and carried on despite the pain. When I finished I sealed it, wrapped it around my collar and made my way to mom's room.

There on the bed lies mom's sleeping form, I climbed up to her bed and whispered into her ear as gently as I could "Mom, I'm sorry, but I love you, and I hope you don't forget about me."

After I placed my collar on her night stand I made my way out her room and out the front door. Once I stepped outside I noticed the chilling night air and how it rendered my fur insufficient as a source of warmth. I gripped my sides and made my way, it was going to be a long journey, and I had no idea as to where I would be going next, but I needed to start.

"FEN!" I was shocked, but I didn't need to turn around to see mom behind me with tears in her eyes

End of Chapter 3