The next morning, the sun barely managed to pierce the thick gray clouds hanging over the city. I could feel the weight of yesterday’s near-loss pressing on me as I stirred a lukewarm cup of coffee, Duke’s head resting heavily against my knees, his eyes half-closed but alert. Lily was still asleep, curled up on the floor in her sleeping bag, clutching her favorite stuffed rabbit like it was a lifeline.
I traced the edge of Duke’s ear, feeling the scar that ran through it—an ugly mark of survival, but now a badge of courage. I knew the world outside our little apartment was indifferent at best, cruel at worst. Every step outside the door carried the risk of landlords, policies, and rules designed to erase the vulnerable. But I also knew something more powerful: yesterday had shown me what love and loyalty could do.
