The backpack of supplies on her shoulders provided Val a little reassurance with its weight. She felt prepared at least, yet the weight of responsibility hung over her head and riddled her with guilt.

In a very real way, Val had failed her family and more specifically, her mother. The last remaining member of her mother’s family would still choose to leave her. Val had not even gotten her a dog to keep her company as she had originally planned. Rather, she had become selfish in that department too in deciding to get a dog for herself.

Earlier today, Val could have easily said that she wanted to adopt a dog—any dog at all—and let her mother choose her fluff ball. After that, she could have left to save Foofy just the same. This result may just as well be for the best though, considering how her mother had never wanted a dog for herself. Dumping a dog in her care without any positive memories attached to her daughter would not serve the purpose that Val had imagined.

These thoughts moved through her mind, but at some point, she would have to stop procrastinating in her room. While Val dreaded having to cross the kitchen for one last time, she steeled herself in preparation. Sooner or later, she would have to leave her home in the mortal world, and no better time would come than right now.

Her heart pumped equal amounts of anxiety and determination throughout her body. A hand extended, veins nearly visible from her previous exertion with Past Insight. Her present stress levels only served to make her hand shake on top of the prominent veins. The doorknob turned beneath her hand regardless, and Val entered the kitchen.

“Oh, Val!” her mother scurried over to give her a hug. “Look at you, off to study with your friends. I am so proud of you. I will look forward to seeing you when you come home again.” The slight narrowing of her eyes showed that her mother was not entirely gullible.

“Yeah, of course,” she muttered, not having much to say. Even if Val could find the courage to tell her mother that she was not coming home, she would not have the words to compose a proper farewell. So long as she always knew where her old home was, she could always return to visit her mother one day, Val told herself.

“Be safe out there. Call me if you need anything, as always.” Her mother preened over her like any emotional, overprotective mother, yet something seemed off about her behavior.

The tone of her voice resounded too dour and serious. Somehow, by some motherly intuition or that strange display of knowledge with Ross, her mother seemed to know something of Val’s intentions. Her fingers ran through Val’s long hair. While her mother played with her hair as she always did, her fingertips pulled more slowly through the strands.

To give her these last moments, Val allowed her to fuss with her hair for once. She liked to imagine that her mother knew this would be the last time seeing each other for a while. Being immortal, Val would have to watch the passage of time carefully in regards to a mortal’s lifespan. She swore it to herself that she would come back and see her mother again.

“I’ll see you later.” Truly, she would see her mother again. This reassurance to herself made parting easier, allowing Val to turn to go. “Goodbye, Mom.”

Each step tapped down with finality across the kitchen tiles. Behind her, Val closed the door to her old home and commanded herself not to look back. She had to keep moving forward lest she turn right around and head back home. So, she pressed on down the stairs, much like the way that Ross had done so in her vision of the past.

Two months ago, Ross had gathered the willpower to leave in the exact same way. If anything, his situation had been a touch worse, having to leave Val behind and break his promise to her. Back then, he had made it look so easy as Val had just witnessed. The act of actually running away from home proved much more challenging than it had appeared.

The way that Ross had stopped on the sidewalk that night with his head tilted back to the void of the sky, it inspired Val to do the same. With her eyes squinting up to the sun, she tried to replicate the same impactful effect.

“Hey Ross….” What exactly should she say to him? The ability of Past Insight did not afford Val as much confidence as Ross received from Future Sight.

“Ugh, what am I doing? For you to see this, it would have to be in your future.” While she did not know all of the nuances of his ability, Val doubted that his Future Sight had ever been powerful enough to know that she thought of him right now. Ross only got to feel vague hunches about things in the future, not specific visions. Therefore, he would never know anything that she said to him.

“I just wanted to say that I am not mad at you for leaving,” she murmured for the sole benefit of herself. They really were going to the Summit of Ascension together, just as they had always talked about. On top of that, Val would be following the very same path that had been laid out by him.

With that, Val continued down the road. She walked back towards the way to school, though she would never have to attend that institution again. She passed the turn that she would normally take and carried on in the direction of the animal shelter.

Ross’s knowledge of her future dog lent her stride more confidence. While Val did not quite know what she would say or do to acquire Foofy as her own, she found it reassuring that he would indeed become her dog per Ross’s account. For the time being, Val did not worry about her plan or plot her next move. She simply put her faith in his vision of the future.

With predetermination on her side, Val arrived at the animal shelter to save Foofy.