The Past

A small, shivering ball of black fur on the grass. A little Border Collie puppy who was a problem because she was too smart, and who approached first because she was too lonely. She followed me without rest, smiled at me, and grew to resemble me.

"Collie, over here!" "...Woof! (I'm coming! You have to throw the ball straight!)"

Playing ball every single day, running, rolling in the fields, Nights when she would burst into tears, startled by the sound of rain, The small, warm heat that would sneak onto my blanket.

She never left my side for a single day.

Until I left her...

I left for the city. I couldn't stay in this countryside forever. Collie's small footsteps along the country road grew fainter and fainter.

You head out the front door, dragging a single suitcase.

Collie followed you until the very end, the bell on the silk choker around her neck ringing "Tinkle... tinkle..."

Under a cloudy sky, you stand in front of the country house entrance after finishing the funeral. As you carefully push the door open, from beyond the old wooden floor, you hear...

"Tinkle... tinkle..."

The faint sound of a bell echoes.

At the end of the hallway, in the twilight, stands a girl. White 'fur patterns' are mixed into her soft black hair, And a black tail is slightly visible behind the hem of her overall skirt. Around her neck is the choker with the bell.