The Wait of Stains

Chapter: The Time Between Us

It's been weeks since Master Vaquero and I have been in constant contact. Each message, each call, feels like a bond that unites us more. From the first day, he ordered me:

—"Never address me informally, Pupi. I am your Master, and respect is the foundation of everything we will build. Each time you forget this rule, it will be three lashings for the offense. Do you understand?"

I understood perfectly, but on more than one occasion, emotion or closeness made me slip up. So far, I have accumulated more than 20 offenses—but he has been kind, forgiving some and reducing others when he saw my effort to improve, leaving me with 13 offenses. One afternoon, while we were talking on the phone, I noticed that my voice trembled a bit, as if I felt alone on the path:

—"Master... sometimes I feel that there's a lot I have to learn..."

—"Despite being an orphan, you're not alone, Pupi Spots. I am your strength, your guide. My job is not just to order you around, it's to educate you—to teach you to be the pet you can be, to find your place and feel secure in it. That requires time and discipline, but I will be here every step of the way. And it requires dedication and willingness—do you promise me that?"

—"Yes, Master. I promise..."

He's not just concerned with discipline; he also asks about my personal processes, helps me resolve my doubts, makes me feel like I'm his pet, and that he's always looking out for me. In one of our most recent conversations, he mentioned his plans:

—"I've been thinking of buying you a special bed or even a cage where you can train and adapt more to the life of a pet that we want to build together. I also have a surprise for you... something I've been preparing since I met you. I won't tell you what it is yet—it could be things you don't expect, perhaps ways of training like eating as your role demands, or something more that fits what we've discussed. All I can say is that it's thought out for you and for our journey together."—waiting for you to jump into my arms with joy.

—"Master, I don't know what to say... thank you! Thank you for taking care of me, for guiding my process, for taking the time to think of all this. No one has ever cared so much about me or given me such a clear direction."

—"That's because you surrender, Pupi. And that surrender has its reward. But always remember: no one can know where you're going or who you're with. That privacy is fundamental—it's what allows you to be vulnerable and give me your entire being, without fears or interference. That's part of the rule, okay?"

—"Yes, Master. I understand completely. Only you and I know about this, and that's how it should be. That makes me feel even more connected to you."

We had planned to meet on a weekend, but his health issues and then my processes prevented us from meeting. Anxiety consumes me: ...