Word Count: 706

Before Edward knew it, he was back in his shed at the Furness Railway Trust's temporary headquarters, located near Derby Works. A few days had passed since he'd returned from the Great Railway Show and all was quiet. He was no longer near Coppernob, who was returned to the National Railway Museum. Thank goodness was all that he could think of the moment the older engine was taken away, looking forward to enjoying the quiet for a while. To give it a rest before feeling lonely again that is.

That was the idea but it didn't work out as such. The moment his temporary crew left him alone, it felt too quiet. It was much more lonely. The absence of engines was stronger than before.

And he absolutely despised it.

Edward felt agitated the day after his return and felt that way ever since. The "shed," as they all called it, was small and bland from the inside. He was typically surrounded by its cream-white concrete walls, facing the metal shed door.

The volunteers of the Furness Railway Trust would occasionally bring him out but he never went farther than the tiny yard surrounding the area. British Railways wouldn't allow him on the traffic lines unless he absolutely needed to so there was no interaction with other engines for him.

"W-When dae I leave?" Edward asked the volunteer attending him.

And by attending him, the job was as simple as just keeping him company.

"Next week," replied the volunteer.

"Where?"

"Edward, you know that's a surprise!"

The Larger Seagull engine huffed.

The elder volunteer chuckled. "You know, you're more…" His words drifted into a hum.

"...more…?"

"Talkative," the volunteer admitted. "It feels like just yesterday you weren't able to talk."

"I've… I can talk."

"Let me be more clear. It feels like just yesterday that you weren't able to talk properly. Why, the day before you left for the show, you were just starting to form sentences. Now you're speaking with more clarity."

"Och."

"What's wrong?" asked the volunteer, noticing the solemn tone.

Edward sighed. "It's… It's lonely."

"But you have us."

"Thon's no' whit I mean."

"Then what do you mean?"

"There's nah other engines."

The volunteer eyed him suspiciously. "I thought you didn't like the company of other engines."

"Ma siblings-"

"Anyone except your siblings."

"Well, nah, but…"

"But…?" The volunteer leaned forward.

"It's nice- It's nice bein' around other nice engines, even wit' yer past."

"Well, they don't know-"

"They dae."

"Pardon?"

"They dae. Those engines frae the North Western Railway. They're nice."

"But didn't you have a bit of a run-in with one of them?" asked the volunteer cautiously. "Everyone knows what happened when you got left behind on Sodor."

"I did. I apologizit. He didnae take it at first. He scarit me a bit," said Edward. "He was a bit… a bit rude."

"But you kept looking for him. Were you trying to pick a fight?"

Edward immediately frowned. "I wisnae!" he huffed out, pissed off.

"Alright, alright!" immediately exclaimed the volunteer. "I just wanted to make sure."

Edward wasn't convinced, looking unamused and nervous at the volunteer.

"Now what about that engine?" the volunteer asked, hoping to divert the conversation. "Did he help you or not?"

With a hum, he replied. "Nah. But then I found him… later thon day. We talkit for a bit."

"About what?"

"Aboot ourselves. We told stories. It wis nice tae jist talk. It's nice tae have a friend."

"A friend?" He was surprised. "You made a friend?"

"Aye…?" Old Coppernob's words started hurling back at him. "Is thon bad? Am I no' allowit tae?"

"Of course, not! This is a good thing, Edward," he reassured. "If anything, you'll be fine when you come into contact with Esmeralda."

"Who?"

"That GNR Stirling Single. The one built back in eighteen-seventy."

"The Stirling A-Ane?"

"Yes-!"

"Excuse me! Quinn!" interrupted the voice of another volunteer, a younger man. Both Edward and the older man peered over at the young volunteer. The young volunteer lifted his arm and waved around an enclosed envelope. "There's a letter-!"

"Leave it in the office, Reginald," quickly interrupted Quinn. He looked back at Edward. "Now, as I was saying-"

"But it's for Edward!"

Originally posted in 2023.