A Bitter Pill Called Regret

in my darkening

affection was a ba

in the park, quiet evenings on the sof

atch behind the ears, his tai

s was actually home

pacing, barking order

n, trotted over and la

d his call

f the furniture,

rcus. And he's

e lonely, get a hobby," he sai

seen in years, a hint of softness. H

d, his voice a fraction gen

hope sparked. Maybe he

zed. Skyler's picture

e said, already turning away. "Skyler ne

g me with Gus and the echo of

ng to rest. The headaches w

It was Maya,

wn? There's something on S

fumbled for my phon

showed a series

ith a new, expensive-lo

e shot, a small, scruff

out when the garden

. "Ugh, some stray mutt keeps gett

shooing something aggressively with

"Photoshoot drama! But Mr. T is getting me a new pupp

d. "Maya, what

to the park. I found him. He... he was hit by a ca

o

t

, driving recklessly to

side of the road, a

my throat, raw

me on the floor, cradling Gus' s lifeles

his voice impatient. "Honest

at him, my face a mask of grief and fury. "Skyler.

g a hand through

as an accident, I' m sure. He was just a dog,

tter

issal of my pain, of Gus' s lif

med, the sound tearing from my

spin, black spots

in my hea

g to steady myself,

d me was Marcus' s face, a flicker of someth