All the Terrible Things

Chapter 55 Heather

HEATHER

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[EXTRACT FROM HEATHER’S LOG NOTES]

I stroke him as gently as I can, tears burning my throat when I see that the shine has gone out of his beautiful brown eyes. In his dull gaze is a question—why aren’t you doing something to help me?

And then his tail gives a feeble thump. With whatever strength he has left he wants to show me he’s still happy to see me. I feel like a traitor.

He looks so scared. He needs soft warm bedding to lie his aching body on. He needs medicine to ease the pain.

All I can offer him is more poison.