His eyes fought to close, but fear kept him awake. Rusty was everything—his only anchor. Without that loyal, gentle presence, Derrick felt he’d drift into the void. He paced the cramped waiting area, pinching his arm whenever his eyes grew heavy, determined not to fail Rusty again.
In a fit of desperation, he pulled out his phone, searching for reassuring stories about dogs in critical condition. Most results only deepened his anxiety. Statistics on survival rates glared back at him. He inhaled sharply, phone slipping from his trembling grip. He couldn’t bear any more bad news.