excerpt from dog

This place has the worst parking lot—cracked pavement.

Standing here trapped, I’m blank. Fluffy Dog feels too light. Air is stinging my face- my jacket becoming heavier.

His blood was making it heavier. I held his wonderful, awkward long body as tight as I could. 

This parking lot is a trap because I know what they will say. Only one thing:

"How would you like to pay today?" would be asked in some sickly sweet voice. So staring at the door- we are stuck. I could hold my dog forever and still not have an Amex to slam down on that counter. I only have a debit card. And a debit card never saved anybody's life.

EI, 2022