When Georgie came back, she saw her mother on the phone. "What is it, Mum?" she asked, half excited and half worried. She knew that if her mother was on the phone so serious, it meant that something was wrong at work. Her mum worked for the RSPCA and looked after so many animals, with Georgie's help on the weekends and after school. "Well... there is a new animal," her mum replied. "Really!?!" Georgie asked, "What's the name? What type? What breed? Why?" Mum laughed. "Oh, Georgie! Well... it's a... dalmatian puppy cal-" "PUPPY!" exclaimed Georgie. Georgie loved all dogs. She was utterly dog- mad. Around her room, where most girls of 13 would have ponies or film stars, was a collection of many pictures of her and her old beagle, Lily, before she passed away. "Go on," Georgie blushed, not meaning to have been rude. "She is 3 months old and called Maya! And, she is very ill, she was starved and she is really hungry. Catherine thinks she has no chance at all," Mum eyed her, seriously. Georgie had never seen that look since Lily had been said to have no chance and she knew that Maya wouldn't have a great chance of surviving...
Elliot's partner was his whole world, but after Allan's death, his ghost haunts Elliot's dreams. Everyone tells Elliot to move on, but he isn't sure he can.
*****
It's been a year since the love of Elliot's life, Allan, passed away. Everyone thinks he should have recovered after that much time, but Allan still haunts Elliot every night. He struggles to maintain relationships with his family, and despite a coworkers interest he can't summon up the courage to date. Elliot is living for the past, because to live for the present means he'll have to live with a hole in his heart. But the question Elliot has to face chases him through his monotonous days: is mourning Allan with everything he has truly living?
[[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]]