Afternoon: Out and about, but on the way home I see a thing that clearly displays the departure of a dog’s spirit from this world. So clear and unmistakable as if it’s a personalized omen meant just for me. I sigh and smile. After all, that token didn’t bind him to me at all. It was just a marker that kept others away.
Night: I step sideways and call for him one last time, just to be sure. I don’t even finish the call when sixty pounds of slobber jumps on me and knocks me over. After getting the very enthusiastic greetings out of the way, I reach for the loose collar that bears my token. He moves his head away from me. “You don’t have to stay.” He answers by puppy-crawling over me and dropping his head on my shoulder with that growling whine that means he’s not having any of this shit so shut up and deal with it.
Alright. I can deal with it.