The next day after breakfast, Carl and Lola were cleaning up the kitchen. Erin fed Fritz, and Paul went to his bedroom to try and write a song for Nunavut. He couldn't get through without bursting into tears. Soon, the doorbell rang. Carl said, "I'll get it." He answered the door. The Devil Wants Peace had arrived. John said, "Hello, Carl. How have you been?" Carl replied, "I've been okay. How about you?" John said, "I've been feeling pretty good. I've been much happier since I started dating Caryn." Stan said, "It's made a big difference in John." Peter said, "Yes, it has. Caryn has been great for him." Allen said, "Absolutely." Carl said, "That's great. Come on in." John asked, "Where's Paul?" Erin said, "He's in his bedroom. He's trying to write a song for Nunavut." Peter said, "I've heard that lad's been blaming himself." Lola said, "He has. Nothing we say to him can get him to stop." John said, "I'll see what I can do." He went to Paul's bedroom. John heard the sound of a sad guitar riff, a shaking voice, and then sobbing. He knocked on the door. He heard Paul's voice say, "Come in." John came in. He asked, "Are you okay, there, Paul?" Paul said, "I'm not. I've been trying to write a song for Nunavut, but I can't do it." John said, "It hasn't been long since he passed. You might not be ready." Paul asked, "When do you think I will be ready?" John said, "That's for you to determine, my friend." Paul said, "I've failed him. If I had fed him before going to the recording studio, I wouldn't be here right now." John placed a hand on Paul's shoulder and said, "I know what you're going through right now." Paul said, "You have no idea what it's like to feel like the death of your dog is your fault!" John said, "Yes, I do." Paul said, "Come again?" John said, "I do know what it's like. I've gone through it twice. My first dog, Beatle, died from his injuries after protecting me from Pastor Thomas. My second dog, Iris, died when my cabin caught on fire during a wildfire. I didn't come back in time." Paul asked, "How did you get through it?" John said, "I told myself that those incidences aren't what Beatle and Iris remember. Listen to me, Paul. Nunavut doesn't remember the fact that you went to the recording studio instead of feeding him." Paul asked, "What does he remember?" John said, "Nunavut remembers that you loved him very much. He remembers all the good times you had with him and Yukon." Paul said, "I did love Nunavut. Do you think he'll forgive me?" John said, "I know he will. He forgave you when you accidentally stepped on his tail that one time, didn't he?" Paul said, "Yeah." He then smiled and said, "Thanks, John." After that, Paul finally stopped blaming himself for Nunavut's death.
The first day of spring was approaching. Leila and Greeley were on Spring Break. Leila said, "It doesn't seem possible that we're going to be finished with our first year of college in less than two months." He said, "I know." She said, "It's also hard to believe that my dog, Paul, is not a puppy anymore. He's fully grown." Greeley said, "They grow up very quickly." She said, "They really do. I also can't believe that my birthday is coming up. It's the first day of spring this year, March 20. I'm going to be eighteen." Greeley said, "Happy Birthday." She said, "Thank you." Knowing that she had friends that she didn't have to say "I thought we were friends" to gave Leila comfort. She also knew that she didn't have to have a romantic relationship to complete her. She has and supportive aunt and uncle and great friends. Because of that, she's not lonely at all.
THE END
THE END