Linewalkers

7 | Change and Strange

Not Edited 

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She didn't know that there were so many things available for cats. 

From the variety of catfood, endless amounts of toys and colorful harnesses, she simply didn't know what to get first. Excitement danced in her heart and she tried to narrow down her options between the best ingredients for cat food and the handful of toys. 

Her father called from the register, "Hey, speedy, you ready?" 

She smiled a little, she had been in such a hurry to get here, he had just started calling her names. She answered, "One second!" 

"Come on, flash." 

She grabbed the ten pound bag of cat food and headed for the front of the store, "Chill, I was coming." 

"Mhm," He took the toys from her hand and set them on the counter, "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost." 

"There is so much stuff to buy!" She exclaimed, the cashier smiled as he rung up the items. 

"Of course there is," Her father payed for the items, "You just have to have money to do so." 

"I have money." She said, she had a delightful salary.

 He thanked the cashier and they headed to the car, "It would be nice to keep the money flowing." He commented. 

She paused, he unlocked the car, "You're telling me to work again." 

They slid into their seats, he looked at her, "Honey, I'm not going to force you to do anything but you are a wonderful computer person, and you have a company willing to pay well-worth for your work." 

"I know." 

"All I'm saying is, maybe you should think about working again," He started the car, "You are much happier on that computer than anything else." 

"Except for Nomad now." She smiled. 

"Is that what you named him?" 

"Yeah, he seemed like a wanderer to me." 

He chuckled, "He probably is but he's taken a liking to you." 

"He makes me feel safe." She admitted. 

Her father glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and then he looked back at the road. If she were to judge, she would say that he had a knowing expression - or maybe it was an expression of relief. She wouldn't forget that she had completely cut her parents out of her life for the past couple of months in order to grieve. 

In the following week, Nomad made himself at home in her heart. Never once did he bother Mr. Kracken and he would follow her everywhere. If she went from one room to another, he was right there with her. Sometimes she would walk around the house simply carrying him and he was perfectly content. 

She had an easier time sleeping at night because of Nomad. The first time she had a nightmare, he laid against her side and it calmed her down. He would even sleep on her chest and his purring was endless. She never thought she would find such comfort in a cat. 

When she had spontaneous breakdowns, Nomad made her feel better. Slowly, she couldn't find herself living life without Nomad. His sleek black fur, white paws and giant amber eyes were the cure to her depression. She never even realized she was growing depressed through her grief, it was an ever gradual process that would have been impossible to escape.