Chapter 16: The Broken Leash
Spring brought warm breezes and long evening walks through the neighborhood park. Arthur cherished these walks. It was his time to decompress, to let the stress of the corporate world slip away while he watched Finn explore the trails.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the tree line casting a golden hue over the park, a squirrel darted directly across the walking path.
Finn’s instincts kicked in. With a sudden, explosive burst of energy, the dog lunged forward. The sudden force snapped the metal clasp of the leash. In an instant, Finn was sprinting into the dense, darkening woods.
"Finn! No!" Arthur yelled, panic immediately seizing his chest.
For a terrifying minute, the echoes of Arthur's past trauma rushed back. The fear of loss, the horrifying image of his childhood dog, Buster, wandering into a busy street. His heart hammered against his ribs as he ran into the brush, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
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"Finn! Come here!" Arthur roared, his voice cracking with desperation.
The bushes rustled. Out bounded Finn, panting happily, an acorn stuck to his nose. He trotted right up to Arthur and sat down, looking up with bright, innocent eyes. Arthur dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around the dog's thick neck, burying his face in the golden fur. He wasn't going to lose him. Finn was right here.
