A/N

the next chapter will be a Christmas special ;)

Sorry if this chapter is short, I just want to get it out.

Thank you, and continue on.

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DECEMBER 20TH, 1900

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The next day was by far, easily the worst day of (Y/N)'s year.

It began early in the morning. (Y/N) got up and stretched, her back cracking in multiple different ways. She scanned her room for Lilac, wanting to feed the dog before they went out.

Except, she wasn't there, snuggled in her usual spot.

This confused (Y/N). Where else would she go? She never left the room alone. Perhaps she had gone out to socialize with other dogs?

(Y/N) brushed it off. Lilac would be fine - she needed to get dressed and ready to spend her Sunday running various errands, most of them revolving around getting gifts for those who she could stand having around her.

She pulled on her trousers, buttoned her top, and pulled her coat on. Grabbing her wallet and knapsack to store the gifts in, she yawned once. Then, as fast as you can say her name, she was out the door of the lodging center.

When she peered out the door, there was a great commotion. She pushed her way through the crowd that was there to see what was happening.

(Y/N) was beyond shocked at what she saw.

There lay a young women, perhaps only 20, in the middle of the street, laying next to a dog -who was also laying on the pavement. A car was parked nearby, obviously damaged. A man was being taken off in handcuffs.

(Y/N) looked closer at the women, who looked as if she was barely holding onto life. She couldn't get a good view of her for long, as paramedics came around her.

But the dog..

It was Lilac, dead.

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Crutchie didn't know much about the accident, but he did know that (Y/N)'s dog had been the only fatality.

(Y/N) didn't leave her room for three days. The only person she allowed inside was Kathrine, who would enter with food and stay in there for a while. The newsboys would put their ears to the door, trying to hear what they were saying.

Alas, it did not work and they would give up.

Crutchie, though, would wait outside the door, waiting for Kathrine. He would ask Kathrine how (Y/N) was doing, what they talked about, and if she wanted to see him.

Kathrine told him the same every day - She was just sad, but managing. She wouldn't share what they would talk about, and she always mentioned she hadn't asked for him.

This didn't stop Crutchie, though. One night, he slipped into the closet she called a room, and gazed at her in her depressive state. She appeared to be half asleep, but looking at him.

Though, (Y/N) also looked sick with grief. Her skin was noticeably pale, her eyes sunken in and decked out with dark eye bags, and her hair was a complete mess.

Crutchie didn't know how to comfort her. Instead, he just gave her a sympathetic look, and murmured to her in a low voice that things would be better one day - that yes, she wont be able to get over this for a while, but she would do her best. She didn't have to forget Lilac, no, but she had to move on.

This seemed to make (Y/N) feel content enough to rest.

Crutchie smiled weakly, looked at her sleeping form, and lifted himself off the bed. As he exited the room, he said one more thing in a quieter tone then usual.

"Goodnight, (Y/N)."