Chapter 10: The Night Shift
The first few weeks with Finn were grueling. The puppy required medication every four hours, and his cast made it impossible for him to navigate the slippery tile floors alone.
To Eleanor and Lily's surprise, it was Arthur who took the lead. Whenever Finn whimpered in the dead of night, Arthur was the one who slipped out of bed, gently carried the heavy puppy outside to the grass, and sat with him under the porch light.
One rainy Tuesday at 3:00 AM, Arthur found himself sitting on the floor of the kitchen, hand-feeding Finn small bites of boiled chicken to coax him into taking his antibiotics. The house was dead quiet.
Finn swallowed the medicine, let out a long sigh, and clumsily dragged his casted leg closer to Arthur. He rested his heavy head directly on Arthur’s thigh, staring up at him with soulful, trusting brown eyes.
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Arthur rested his hand on Finn’s warm back, feeling the steady rhythm of the dog's breathing. He realized then that the icy wall he had built around his heart had completely melted away. He wasn't afraid of the future pain anymore; he was just profoundly grateful for the present moment.
"You're a good boy, Finn," Arthur whispered into the dark room. "You're a very good boy."
