Chapter 61: side story: The Dog and his Mistress

Rosalie was young. Fifteen years of age and had just started living in the orphanage next to the church. It was a lively place, the kids were sweet.

Her dog, mickey was old now. He had been her companion for five years and had spent 5 years with his previous master yet he followed her everywhere. He was a loyal little fellow and one day as he followed his mistress to the market he noticed how his mistress seemed troubled.

He looked at her face, she was trying to listen to something so he focused on it too.

It was a melody. A rather beautiful melody.

"Mikey!" His mistress called, "I feel like I've heard this melody somewhere before!" She changed her route and instead of going shopping she entered a small music store.

Mikey was used to this, his owner was the type that could easily be distracted, so he followed her in the store where a young woman played the melody that attracted his mistress.

"Excuse me!" Rosalie got her attention, "By any chance, can you teach me this melody?"

She looked at her, "Do you know this melody?"

"No, it's just that, I really like it. It somehow gives me a strange sense of deja vu."

"Hmm." The other woman thought about it, " I'm not sure of the name myself but-" She looked at the redhead, "Have you played the piano before?"

"No…"

"And you still want to learn?"

"Please?"

"Well, if I have to teach you, you'll have to pay."

"Yes!!" Mikey looked at his mistress in disbelief as she agreed. He woofed at her. 'What do you mean you'll pay for it? Didn't you want to get a new dress?

"Oh come on Mikey! I feel like this is important."

Mikey sighed and gave up, his mistress was too enthusiastic, he'll just watch over her like he always has.

He didn't have much time left, so he wanted to let her owner be happy.

Rosalie was clumsy but she learned and Mikey stayed by her side as she learned how to perform a good piece.

It was perhaps the day, they came running back to the orphanage in heavy rain and at night Mikey fell ill. Rosalie was seventeen then.

She had grown up to be a fine woman, less clumsy and only a bit more mature but Mikey knew she'd be able to take care of herself now, even if he hasn't with her.

So he staggered to his mistress's side at night, to spend just one final night by her side.