"This is Sierra, who you're going to be working for from now on." Malcolm's voice is proud with just the slightest undercurrent of sadness. He's been my trainer for years now.

I glance up at Malcolm, and he nods, and I walk towards Sierra.

I can't see her eyes because of her sunglasses, and most of her body is covered in a loose hoodie and equally loose jeans, but her hair and her face and her lips are beautiful to me. Her cane leans against the wall next to her.

As I step closer, she doesn't react beyond furrowing her eyebrows a little.

Stepping up to her, until I gently touch the back of her hand, and a little jolt as she straightens up, bites her lip for just a moment before smoothing her face over.

I take a step back, glancing back at Malcolm-- have I messed this up? Malcolm just smiles at me patiently, and I understand-- no, this isn't my fault, she just isn't used to working with me yet.

I kneel down on the floor in front of her. "Hi, Sierra. I'm Dust, I've been raised to help you."

She slowly reaches her hands out to pet the top of my head.

This is my human that's finally touching me.

Unless she rejects me, of course. Unless I'm not good enough.

Sierra scritches behind my ear gently.

My tail starts wagging. I'm a good girl. I'm going to be her service dog like my Trainer taught me to.

It's a bit weird that she's touching me like this.

"You have my number if you have any questions," says Malcolm softly. "But she passed all the tests, and she's been a good girl." There's even more pride in his voice, if possible. "She'll be a good girl for you, too, as long as you keep things clear with her. You can't spoil her too much, she is a service dog, after all."

I start to tear up at that, but I don't want Malcolm to see my tears.

A good girl wouldn't cry because she is going to miss her Trainer.

A good girl would just be happy she's meeting her new owner.

I'm still crying a little, but I don't want him to see it.

Sierra must hear it, though, because she gently runs her fingertip under my eye, wipes away a tear.

She kneels down next to me and puts her arms around my shoulders. She presses against me. Her body is soft against mine. Her lips brush against my ear. "If you don't want to do this, you don't have to." Her voice is very soft.

"I do, this is what I trained for, I'm just... I'm scared." My voice is soft too.

"Me too," admits Sierra, "but we'll figure this out together, okay? You're beautiful, and I'm very grateful to have you." She stands up, and holds her hand out, and I take it, like I'm supposed to.

Sierra speaks again, louder: "Thank you, Malcolm." She looks to me-- well, it's not like she can see me. "Take me to the train station." Her voice is a slightly more clipped voice, and I obey her without thinking, and we're walking out of the gardens that Malcolm has taken me to so many times.

I'll probably never meet him again and I'm tearing up just a little more, but I blink my tears away. It's my job to keep her safe, to guide her across the streets, and I'm doing it, just like I was trained to. It feels a little wrong, just like it did with everyone else but Malcolm, but I know I'll get used to it one day. Malcolm said so, and he's always right.

Her hand is just slightly sweaty in mine, but she follows after me, trusting me and my training to keep her safe. She's a bit slower than I'm used to with Malcolm, but I know how to slow my pace and keep it easy for her to keep up.

I keep wanting to steal more glances at her, at my new human, but I am in work mode and need to be a good girl and focus-- she'll let me know when it's time to relax.