Maria:
I check my phone before I even fully open my eyes.
Nothing.
No message. No missed call. Not even something small I can pretend means more than it does.
I stare at the screen a second longer than I should, like it might change if I give it time.
It doesn’t.
I drop the phone back beside me and sit up.
I’m not doing this today.
That thought feels forced at first. Like I’m trying to convince myself of something I don’t fully believe yet. But I still get out of bed, still move through my morning like nothing is off, like yesterday didn’t leave anything behind.
By the time I get to the clinic, it works. A little.
The sign outside catches my eye as I walk in. Haven and Tails Veterinary Clinic. I remember when I first picked the name. It felt soft and safe and exactly what I neede
