Unleashed Desires

Amy Oh boy, tomorrow's going to be a big day! But instead of snuggling up in bed, I'm doing the toss-and-turn dance. My anxiety is out of control, and sleep is nowhere to be found. What's got me all worked up? Just my first Animal Cruelty Court Case ever. No big deal, right? Wrong! I've never testified in court before, and I'm freaking out about what will happen. It doesn't help that the case is against a distant relative of our County Commissioner. Talk about pressure! If I have made a mistake in this case, it may result in the defendants being found not guilty. Even if I do win, there is a chance that the defendants may still be able to regain custody of their horses. This is because Animal Cruelty is categorized as a minor misdemeanor in Ohio, which carries a relatively light penalty. Let me start from the beginning. My name is Amy, and I am 18 years old. I became a mother at 15, and now have a 3-year-old daughter named Dakota. My marriage at 15 years old ended in divorce after only six months due to physical abuse. I made the difficult decision to leave him, and with the support of my parents and grandparents, I was able to do so safely. I understand that leaving an abusive relationship can be extremely challenging, and I was fortunate to have a strong support system. My parents helped me find a reliable babysitter to continue my education. Once I graduated, I secured a job at the County Animal Shelter, where my mother is the manager. I began my career as a kennel technician and was later appointed as a Humane Officer. Surprisingly, there are no formal training requirements to become a Cruelty Investigator. All it takes is an oath, and you're in. This fact keeps me up at night because I'm new to this role and unsure of my abilities. These animals rely on me to speak up for them, and I feel the weight of that responsibility. The morning arrives earlier than I'd like, but I quickly prepare myself and my daughter for the day. We live with my parents, so my mom and I head to the shelter after dropping my daughter off with the sitter. I aim to tidy up my designated area and groom the puppies before heading to court. It's about more than just fulfilling my duties, though. I also enjoy spending time with the adorable pups. Who can resist the sweet scent of puppy breath? After cleaning up the puppy area, I go to the courthouse for an Animal Cruelty case. It's important to note that these cases are treated like other traffic violations. Once inside, I take a seat and wait for my turn. It could be immediate or take hours, but while waiting, I listen to the other court cases and gain valuable knowledge. It's a good use of time. After several hours of listening to the court case, the prosecutor noticed me and walked over. "Hey, why are you here?" she asked. "I got a notice about the court case today. So here I am," I replied. "The horse case?" she asked, seeming somewhat interrogative. "Yes, the horse case," I replied, wondering why she questioned me. "That case got postponed until tomorrow," she informed me. "Great. And no one notified us," I muttered to myself in frustration. "Well, I guess I will be back tomorrow," I said, leaving. It was disappointing that I had wasted my time at the court today, but I was relieved that I had the chance to come back and present the case tomorrow. As the day ended, I returned to the animal shelter, weary but fulfilled. "I get to do it all again tomorrow," I announced to my coworkers, who smiled at my enthusiasm. I settled in to finish the rest of my duties, taking calls for the Dog Wardens and dispatching reports of dogs running at large to them. I also worked on incoming dogs by completing the intake paperwork. As I reviewed why people gave up their pets, I shook my head in disbelief. One example that stood out was a couple who got rid of their two beloved labs because they had remodeled their house, and the dogs didn't match the new decor. It was a ridiculous excuse, and it saddened me to think that these loyal animals were discarded like unwanted furniture. Despite the heartbreaking reasons why some animals ended up at the shelter, I was glad to be a part of the team that gave them a second chance at finding a loving home. I knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, but I was ready to face them with the same dedication and compassion. As my mom and I leave for the day to pick up my daughter, I say a silent prayer that we won't get called out tonight. Being an Animal Cruelty Investigator means being on call 24/7. It's a tough job, but it's what I love doing. Once we arrive home and have dinner, I head to the barn to take care of the horse and get in a ride before ending my day. Horses have always been my solace in the day's chaos; they help me forget everything and concentrate on the ride. As I finished my ride, I put Dakota on Vanna and led her around. Nevada, my daughter, loves horses too. It's a great feeling to share my passion with her. Nevada and I retreat inside after a long day of work to unwind. I give her a warm bath, and we enjoy some playful moments before I tuck her into bed and read her a story. The little moments like these make all the hard work worth it. Although I love my job and daughter, I cherish a few hours of time alone each night. It's vital for my mental health and well-being. As for a man in my life, that's not a possibility at the moment. Between work and raising Nevada, I barely have any time for myself, let alone a relationship. Okay, so here's the deal. I've got some serious trust issues. My ex-hubby seemed all lovely-dovey initially, but as soon as we tied the knot, he became a total control freak. The guy grew up in a household where his mom did everything for him, and his dad was the boss. On the other hand, I was raised to be independent and wasn't about to become his butler. I gotta admit my stubbornness might have contributed to our breakup, but I'm not gonna change who I am for anyone. I groaned as my phone rang, piercing the silence of the night. It was a dispatch call, and I knew it could only mean one thing - an emergency. I reluctantly answered to hear that someone had found a cat that had been shot with an arrow. I agreed to handle it, knowing that my night of peaceful sleep was now over. I quickly got dressed and left my house, heading toward the location of the injured cat. When I arrived, I saw a deputy sheriff standing there with a cat carrier at his feet. I approached him and introduced myself. "Hello, I'm Amy. I received a call about an injured cat," I said, trying to hide my tiredness and disheveled appearance. The deputy looked at me with concern. He was a tall, handsome man with dark brown hair and gray eyes. I couldn't help but feel self-conscious about my appearance - my smudged makeup, baggy sweatshirt, joggers, and messy bun. Great, I look like roadkill. "Hi, I'm Deputy Marshall. I found the cat and got it in the carrier," he said, gesturing to the carrier. I'm a Gemini and always joke about my good and bad twins. But today, my bad twin decided to rear its ugly head. And let me tell ya, I had to roll my eyes. This dude's a deputy sheriff with the last name Marshall. Are you kidding me, world? Can you say 'cliché'? #astrologyproblems #twintroubles Raising an eyebrow, the deputy sheriff asked, "Problem?" I couldn't help but let out a scoff. "Nope, no problem. Your last name is Marshall, and you're a deputy. It's kind of ironic, don't you think?" The deputy sheriff let out a small chuckle. "Miss Amy, you wouldn't be the first to notice the association between my name and my profession. No offense taken," he said with a grin. "Besides, I like your honesty. It's refreshing." I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed at my snarky remark but was grateful that the deputy sheriff took it in stride. I smiled back at him, feeling more at ease with the man with the ironic name. "Go ahead and keep the carrier. I will stop by the shelter and pick it up tomorrow," Deputy Marshall said. "Perfect, thanks," I replied, picking up the carrier and setting it in my car. "What do you think will happen with the cat?" the Deputy Marshall questioned. "That is for the vet to decide. I will make it comfortable overnight, and the vet can check it out in the morning," I responded. "Whoever helps you when you come for your carrier can let you know." “You’re not going to be there tomorrow?” he asked, his tone curious. “I’ll probably be in court all day,” I replied, wondering why he was asking. I couldn't help but notice the wedding ring on his finger, immediately understanding that he was already married. He had to be ten years older than me, if not more. I quickly dismissed any thoughts of his interest in me, knowing it was impossible and inappropriate. Plus, I needed to improve at guessing people's ages anyway. I tried to steer the conversation back to the case, hoping to avoid further awkwardness. I informed the deputy about picking up her cat from the animal shelter. "The shelter opens at eleven tomorrow, but if you go to the animal shelter, there is a buzzer you can ring. Just let the staff know that you need your carrier, and they will meet you at the door with it," I said, getting in my car to leave. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor cat as I drove home with it in the carrier. I had no idea what kind of life it had before it was left on the side of the road. All I could do was make it as comfortable as possible and hope the vet could help.