Seeing Bella
At the hall's end, a door stood ajar. I shoved it open—Janet sat on a low stool, back to me. Before her lay a metal crate lined with white padding. Bella lay inside on her side, covered by a thin blanket. Her normally lustrous golden coat looked dull and tangled. Most jarring were the thick white bandages swathing her lower abdomen. Bella's eyes were half-open, vacant, her damp nose twitching with faint, pained whimpers.
Post-Surgery Anguish
Any shift of her hind legs triggered violent tremors and louder cries, as if breathing itself was agony. Janet’s shoulders shook gently as she stroked Bella's head through the crate bars, fingers trembling. Hearing the door, she whipped around. Her eyes were swollen walnuts, cheeks tear-streaked, face ghostly pale. Seeing me, sorrow vanished, replaced by blazing fury and hatred.
Janet's Loathing
She shot to her feet, swaying with emotion. Pointing toward the exit, her voice rasped, biting each word: "Why are you here?! Get out! Take that lunatic husband of yours and go! Stay away from me and Bella!" Her venom pinned me in place; shame and sorrow needled through me. "Janet..." My throat tightened; I could barely speak. My gaze drifted helplessly to frail Bella—she struggled weakly with a hind leg, whimpering again, body shuddering.
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At the hall's end, a door stood ajar. I shoved it open—Janet sat on a low stool, back to me. Before her lay a metal crate lined with white padding. Bella lay inside on her side, covered by a thin blanket. Her normally lustrous golden coat looked dull and tangled. Most jarring were the thick white bandages swathing her lower abdomen. Bella's eyes were half-open, vacant, her damp nose twitching with faint, pained whimpers.
Post-Surgery Anguish
Any shift of her hind legs triggered violent tremors and louder cries, as if breathing itself was agony. Janet’s shoulders shook gently as she stroked Bella's head through the crate bars, fingers trembling. Hearing the door, she whipped around. Her eyes were swollen walnuts, cheeks tear-streaked, face ghostly pale. Seeing me, sorrow vanished, replaced by blazing fury and hatred.
Janet's Loathing
She shot to her feet, swaying with emotion. Pointing toward the exit, her voice rasped, biting each word: "Why are you here?! Get out! Take that lunatic husband of yours and go! Stay away from me and Bella!" Her venom pinned me in place; shame and sorrow needled through me. "Janet..." My throat tightened; I could barely speak. My gaze drifted helplessly to frail Bella—she struggled weakly with a hind leg, whimpering again, body shuddering.
NEXT >>
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