apartment was si

ocal shelter, wasn' t there to greet me at the door when I came h

ad tightened

alking through the quiet

n the floor, staring at her phone. He

t's wrong?

d her phone towards me. On the scr

She had asked w

nce: "Sold him. We needed the cash

Our sweet, trusting Buddy. He represented everything good an

ered, the words feeling

g. "I called him. He didn't even care, Gabi. He laughed. He s

r ago. They cornered me. They demanded I liquidate my assets, that I t

age. They hadn't just betrayed us. They had destroyed someth

hoked out. "I couldn't stay

olded piece of pa

ave power. I' m faking it. A car accident. Don't worry. I' ll be safe. I' ll wait f

e I could process it, the sound of siren

d near the old bridge, flashing lights illuminated t

The door burst open. It was Ethan and Wesley. They didn't

she?" Etha

e window. They rushed over, peer

d not with grief, but with frustration. "Di

d to me, his face a mask of fake

ments, for anything of value. They weren't mourning. They were vul