Three weeks had passed, just like normal. Staying in my room for the majority of the time, or being asleep, or just being lazy. Ever since I was expelled and out of school, my life had been a whole lot better, without the bullies and stares when I was with Dan.

Dan. Dan had been a lot harder to be around. Whenever I was around him, my heart seemed to beat faster, and my chest became hot and it was hard to breathe... is that what loving someone is like? Whenever they're gone, you want them to be there, but when  they're there, it's hard to take a decent breath without hyperventilating and stuttering on your words, or when your cheeks feel so hot...

I had started talking again yesterday. I forgot how great it is to talk. Like, sure, my throat is soar and it hurts, but I can finally make annoying sounds again! And I can scream "TOAST!" randomly because I feel like it.

I am taking a walk around, looking at my black shoes. I see a small puppy that had it's paw stuck in the rain gutter. I scramble to it. "Hey, little guy. You okay?" I saw quietly.

The puppy looks at me with pleading big eyes.

I untangle it's leg, and pick it up in my arms. He has curly black hair, with dirt in it, and wet water. He has brown eyes, that look so cute. He's small, but not too small. I bring him inside.

I know that neither dad or papa is home, so it's safe.

I put the dog onto my bed. His paw drips blood onto the bed. and I quickly pick him back up. "Hey, I'm going to wash you up in my bathroom. okay?"

I take him into the bathtub, which he seems to really hate, it takes me a while, but I get him in with the water running. I clean him off.

His wet hair hangs off of his body, and I realize how skinny he is. Close to starvation. Since I know almost nothing about dogs, I figure that they like turkey. I don't know.

I give him some turkey in a bowl, and sit down with it on the couch. 

I hear the doorknob turn, and dad walk in.

He looks at the dog, and smiles. "Who's this?"

"I found him or her outside in the rain thingy."

"Is he or she okay? By the way, I could check... if she's the same as hellhounds."

"Okay. And it's okay, now. Could we keep it, until we find its owner?"

"Yeah." He takes the puppy from my arms, and holds her up. "Girl."

I smile. "Awesome. What should we call her though?"

"Mrs. O'leary Jr." he jokes, but I kind of liked the idea.

"Mrs. O'leary Jr. it is."

"I was joking."

"Yeah, well I liked the name."

"Okay. So... Mrs. O'leary Jr. it is, then?"

"Yup! Sounds legit."

I watch the puppy squirm on my chest, smiling. She looks so cute and cuddly and small. I wonder if that's how I looked to some people...

*****

That night, I cuddle Mrs. O'leary Jr. until I fall asleep. She is warm on my chest as I drift into a deep  sleep.