Part 26
I approached him cautiously. He was in agony.
His beautiful eyes were filled with aIglow.
His paws scraped the ground frantically, his
claws splitting and bleeding.
“Ethan,” I whispered, stopping a few feet away.
“I’m here. It’s okay.”
He turned, a flicker of confusion in his eyes,
which then burst with recognition.
“Aoooo!” He lunged at me, knocking me to the
ground. My back landed on the dry leaves with
a thud. It wasn’t painful, just numb.
He frantically licked me all over, from head to
<
toe, as if to confirm that I was real. He
whimpered, a mix of relief,, and terror.
Tears dripped onto my skin. He was crying. His paws clung to me tightly, as if I would
disappear if he let go.
“Don’t cry, baby. I’m here. I’m okay.” I gently
stroked his ears. “I’m here, baby. I’m fine. I’m
right here with you.”
