a second night
That night, Tom felt pulled back to the backyard. The barking, which was weak at first, became louder with each passing minute. Unable to resist, he got out of bed and grabbed his flashlight. “I’ve got to know,” he said quietly, tiptoeing downstairs. The rear door creaked as he opened it gently and stepped into the darkness. The yard was quiet, but the barking seemed to appeal to him, drawing him to Max’s resting place.
A Second Night
Looking into the night
Tom ran outside, flashlight in hand, his pulse thumping. The barking intensified, booming through the calm night air. He swung his flashlight beam across the yard, eager to find Max. However, the backyard stayed unchanged: no movement, no shadows, just the old quiet. “Where are you?” he asked, feeling both disappointed and determined. Despite the vacant yard, the sense of Max’s presence persisted.
Looking into the night
