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Tommy loved Wilbur. Wilbur was everything. Wilbur was every morning and every night. Wilbur was waking up and going to sleep.
Wilbur was every tail wag and every scoop of food. Tommy doesn’t remember a life without Wilbur. Ever since he was a puppy, Wilbur had been there.
His routine went like this. He woke up, stretching his four legs out towards Wilbur’s face.
If that was not enough to wake the man up, he would get out from under the blankets and lick the man’s face.
Wilbur would scrunch his nose up and shove Tommy’s snout out of his face with a laugh.
“Hungry?”
Wilbur threw the blankets off him, standing up and stretching his limbs. The old man’s back cracked, Tommy smiling as his tail wagged. Wilbur made his way out of the bedroom, opening the pantry and pulling out a box of kibble.
Wilbur poured a scoop into the bowl, Tommy watching as the delectable crumbles of food emptied into it.
Before Wilbur even finished pouring, Tommy dove. He chomped on as much as he could, feeling Wilbur’s fingernails scratch down his fur. “I’ll go make myself some breakfast.”
Wilbur quickly made his way over to the kitchen, cracking a few eggs and starting on a few sausage patties.
Tommy finished up his bowl in a matter of seconds, heading over to the table and sitting down. Wilbur just smiled at him, patting his head as he settled down. The man ate much slower than Tommy did, savoring each bite.
Tommy pawed at Wilbur’s leg, the man looking down at him with an eyebrow raised. “Is that how you ask nicely?”
Tommy put both his paws up, tail wagging. Wilbur tore off a piece of sausage, throwing it into the air. Tommy leapt up, catching it with ease.
Wilbur giggled, getting up and heading into his bedroom.
Tommy waited just outside the door, sitting down and staring at the doorknob for any sign of movement.
After a moment, Wilbur exited with a new set of clothes. Wilbur headed to the front door, whistling for Tommy to follow.
He did with no hesitation.
Wilbur locked the door behind them, heading down a few flights of steps before making it to the main road. Tommy stayed right by Wilbur’s side, waiting for the little sign that said that he could walk safety.
The little walking figure appeared, signaling they were safe. Tommy circled between Wilbur’s legs with each step the man took, nearly tripping him.
But the man didn’t mind. He just laughed at the dog’s antics, being careful not to step on his paws.
Eventually, they made it to the train station.
Tommy sat down, panting as his tail wagged. Wilbur got on one knee, squishing his face and rubbing his cheeks exaggeratedly.
“I’ll see you in a bit, Toms.” Wilbur then pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You be good now. And I love you. Thank you for being my best friend.”
Tommy licked Wilbur’s nose in return, the man giggling before standing up.
Wilbur always told him that. How they were best friends.
That was what Wilbur was. Wilbur was his best friend. When Tommy was sad and in need of cuddles, Wilbur was there. When Wilbur was sad and in need of cuddles, Tommy was there. Wilbur’s tears would soak into his fur as he cried, leaving damp spots.
Tommy didn’t mind though. Of course not! He just licked that salty stickiness from Wilbur’s face and then they cuddled more! Or maybe Wilbur would throw a toy a few times.
Whatever it was they did, Tommy didn’t mind. Because they did it together!
The doors to the train shut, slowly taking off.
And now it was time for Tommy to have a bit of fun.
Tommy stood up, leaving the train station and making his way around town. He went to the pond and chased a group of ducks around. Then he went to the playground and climbed up to slide down the slides.
The people around here knew him. They knew he was no danger to the children.
Tommy stopped by a small cart that sold hot dogs, the owner tossing him some leftovers as he always did.
Tommy had a good life.
A best friend that loved him and an amazing place to wander.
And a place to always come home.
Speaking of that…
Tommy looked to the sky, noticing the sun was in a lower position. He perked up, starting to rush off back to the train station.
This was his routine.
Wake up, eat, drop Wilbur off, play around town for a little while, then pick Wilbur up!
Easy. Simple. And consistent.
Tommy pranced inside the station, settling in his normal spot. He let his tongue loll out of the side of his mouth as he panted, tail wagging.
This was the highlight of his day. Wilbur would walk through the train doors and give him a big hug. Like they had been years and years apart.
And to be honest it felt like that sometimes!
The train slowly pulled in, coming to a stop.
Tommy sat forward a little, nose twitching as he awaited Wilbur’s scent.
The doors pulled open, groups of people flooding out. They chatted on their phones, not a care in the world.
Tommy lifted his head, turning it from left to right.
He didn’t… smell Wilbur? Where was Wilbur?
Tommy waited for the train to be clear, the doors closing again before it was sent down the track.
Tommy frowned.
Where… where was his best friend?
Maybe Tommy came a little early! Or maybe his Wilby was just a little late.
He’d wait for the next train.
And so Tommy sat.
He sat for what felt like forever before another train pulled in. The doors slid open, people of unfamiliar smells flooding out. Tommy scanned the crowd, looking for his usual tall human.
But he wasn’t there.
Tommy’s tail stopped wagging, ears dropping.
Hm. Well, that was certainly odd.
Oh well. Perhaps Wilbur fell asleep somewhere and was taking a nice nap.
He’ll come back tomorrow. Tommy ran back to the apartment, reaching up to the doorknob.
Oh. It was locked. Tommy sat back in his haunches, tilting his head. That was a problem, wasn’t it?
Tommy simply laid down, curling next to the door and closing his eyes.
He’d see Wilby tomorrow. Or maybe he would come back home tonight!
Who knows.
He’ll be waiting though.
He always will.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Tommy was back at the station. Everyday.
Everyday, he would watch the trains pull in and dump a load of people. None of which were his best friend.
That was okay. Tommy could wait. Wilbur always waited for him. It was only fair.
And so Tommy sat.
And he sat.
And he sat.
And he sat.
And he sat…
And he sat…
He sat…
For days. Weeks. A month.
Every day, at the same time, he was at the train station. Wilby would be back. He promised he would be. And Tommy was going to be there to greet him, as he always did.
Surely Wilbur would be so lonely after going so long without seeing Tommy. Tommy couldn't let the man be sad for even a moment.
So, he waited.
People talked around him all the time. Though more recently he noticed others looking at him. They pointed at him and whispered.
There was this one elderly man talking to a younger one with pink hair.
“Do you know about that dog there?”
“I’ve seen it just sittin’ out here everyday.”
“Yeah, well… The owner of that dog is Wilbur Soot…”
“Oh… That’s… Does the dog know?”
“I don’t think he knows that… that Wilbur isn’t coming back. No one showed the dog the body or anything… I don’t know if he’ll ever stop…”
“Of course he will. He’ll realize it eventually.”
A hum. “I think… if he doesn’t stop on his own I’ll take him in. Don’t want him starving out here or getting stuck in the rain.”
Tommy couldn't really understand what the humans were saying. He didn’t really care to know. It wasn’t important. Because it wasn’t his best friend.
Those two did eventually come back. The older man ended up taking him into his house, giving Tommy some nice kibble.
He even had a little door inside his door that let Tommy walk out!
Tommy liked it. It let him have food in the morning and then leave for the train station.
Wilbur hadn’t come out yet. And when Tommy checked their apartment again, there was some strange person there?
Tommy wasn’t sure why there was another human in their house. And the human didn’t seem keen on letting Tommy in either.
That was alright, he could stay at the old man’s.
And then he sat.
And he sat.
And he sat.
And the sun rose and fell. The stars shifted throughout the night sky.
Time and time again, without fail, the train doors did not hold his Wilby.
Tommy wasn’t sure how long it had been. He was quite worried for the man. Wilbur didn’t do well with loneliness. He needed Tommy. And Tommy needed Wilbur.
Tommy’s tail stopped wagging a long time ago.
But Tommy knew. Tommy knew Wilbur was coming back. One day the man would walk through those train doors. And he would give Tommy one of those Wilby hugs that no one else could replicate.
And Tommy was so excited! His best friend was coming back someday. And Tommy would be ready.
Even after years of waiting.
-/-/-/-/-/-
The old man had put Tommy in a strange box. Tommy didn’t like the box much. It constricted his freedom. It made him nervous.
It made him very nervous when Tommy was put in one of those moving boxes. Cars, Tommy thought Wilbur had called them.
But the nice younger man with the bright hair had given him a nice treat and then he felt very sleepy.
The next thing he knew he was on a new bed in a new home. Tommy got up and looked around, glancing at all the new things. The older man was there, and he gave Tommy some nice pets.
He didn’t realize humans moved houses. This was a new development for him.
Still, Tommy wanted to get out! He wanted to go play. He wanted to go to the train station.
So Tommy made his way to the door, searching for the little flap. But he found none.
Tommy looked at the old man, barking.
The man gave an awkward smile and patted his head. “We’re not going back, Tommy. Sorry.”
Tommy tilted his head, confused.
But the man wouldn’t let him out. He looked through the window, noticing the time.
No!!! He needed to be at the train station! Wilby could be waiting for him there.
The man sighed as Tommy barked loudly. “I guess… We can go for a walk.”
The man attached something to his collar, opening the door.
As soon as he could, Tommy took off. The man behind him yelped, trying to hold onto the leash only for it to be ripped from his hands.
“Tommy! Wait! Come back! He’s not coming back, Tommy!”
Tommy’s feet pattered against the ground as he ran, feeling his lungs burn.
Oh… He couldn’t run quite as fast as he used to, huh?
He didn’t let that stop him, though. No, he continued to run. No where around him was familiar. The people were different. The places. The scents.
Everything was different.
But he still knew, a gut feeling, of where to go.
So, he followed that pull to his best friend. He ran and ran until he couldn’t anymore. His legs were burning, and his chest ached.
His stomach grumbled angrily.
Oh… Had Tommy been eating recently?
Now that he thought about it, he didn’t think he ate much these past couple of days. That was… alright.
That was alright.
Tommy’s legs shook beneath him as he stepped into town. A place he recognized now. Somewhere familiar.
How long has he been running?
It was well past sunset. He missed the train.
Then he would go and sit there anyway! Maybe Wilby waited for him there too. What was a couple hours when Tommy had waited years?
Wilby would be there, Tommy was sure.
This time, he was going to see his best friend again.
Tommy stepped into the station, paws dragging and claws scraping against the concrete with each step.
He huffed, panting. Truthfully, more like wheezing.
His tail wagged as he saw his typical spot.
Wilby would find him there, like he always did.
Tommy stepped into his spot, entire body collapsing.
Forgive him, he was quite tired.
The night sky shown above him, the sun long gone from the bright blue.
The trains had stopped running. The people were no longer filling the station. The benches were empty.
But… that was okay.
Tommy curled into himself, his heartbeat slowing as he took in a long breath.
Surely… Wilby wouldn’t mind if he closed his eyes for a little while? He’d see him still here waiting. It would be funny, truthfully! It would be Wilbur’s turn to wake him up.
That sounded nice.
Yeah. That sounded really nice. He couldn’t wait for Wilbur to wake him up.
His eyes shut, the breath leaving him in a drawn out whine.
He’d wait, as he always had.
…
Chug. Chug. Chug. Screeeeech.
Tommy felt a warm light touch his face as a small swish sounded.
He peeled open an eye, head perking up.
“WILBY!!!!!” Tommy barked excitedly, scrambling off the concrete.
Wilbur sat in the train doors, a wide smile on his face. He bent down to one knee, opening his arms wide.
“Tommy!”
Tommy rammed into him, sending them both tumbling to the floor. Wilbur laughed as Tommy kicked at his face. First the cheek, then the nose, then the forehead. All while Wilbur’s hands curled around him, familiar laughter ringing through his ears.
Laughter he missed so much!
“I knew you’d be back! I knew you’d be back!”
The man laughed, kissing his face repeatedly. “Of course, Toms. I couldn’t leave without you, could I? I waited for you too.”
Tommy licked the man’s face, burying his head into his best friend’s neck. Wilbur did the same, holding him tightly.
“I’ve got you. Thank you for waiting for me.”
Tommy just snuggled closer, wrapping his paws around the man as best he could.
He didn’t care that the train doors closed. Or that it had begun to move.
It didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered.
Because he had his Wilby. Where they were going didn’t really matter. Because they were going together!
Wilbur pressed another kiss to his fur, smiling.
“Good boy.”
…
At a train station, a silent train departed. The lights from the window as it passed illuminating the face of a dog who waited.
A dog reunited with his best friend, for good.
Never to wait again.