It was like night and day. He fed me apples. Started petting me. Muttered a bunch of soothing nonsense. Very carefully brushed the tangles out of my mane.

[That man, unbeknownst to many, held so much tenderness close to his chest. And for a few fleeting moments, Vyng was privileged enough to be on the receiving end of it.]

I'd been on my own for so long. I'd almost forgotten. . .

["What unconditional love feels like," he thinks. But the words stay lodged in his throat. It hurts. With a watery smile, he just shakes his head and reaches to collect the empty glasses from the countertop.]