-Elizabeth-
The scent of antiseptic filled the air, sharp and unyielding, but all I could focus on was the sound of Fatso's labored breathing as he was whisked away through the double glass doors that led to the examination rooms. My heart raced in sync with the panic surging through me, each thud a reminder of the moment's urgency. Fatso—my loyal, slightly rotund pug—lay helpless on the gurney, and all I could remember was the laughter that rang through the house last week when the twins played dress-up, draping him in a superhero cape. My mind flickered through images of wagging tails and slobbery kisses, and now, I was left standing in a fluorescent-lit corridor, ready to shatter into a million pieces.
"Lizzie, breathe," Victoria urged, gently wrapping an arm around my shoulders. She
