I try not to think about the fact that Henry has left, but it’s hard to think of anything else. After Anya told me the news, I checked my phone, but there were no messages. I remind myself that I always knew our relationship wasn’t going anywhere. Still, I never expected him to leave without saying good-bye. I guess a part of me had thought we would work around the obstacles in our way, hightail it off the road before we ran into that dead end. I’d hoped we’d make our own map. At the podium, Sybil is thanking the Jacobsens for hosting the gala. “Thank you also to everyone in this room for your continued support of SuperMutt Rescue,” she continues. Her voice is every bit as clear and engaging as I’d known it would be, with or without the extra speaker. “Because of you, we have found forever homes for sixteen dogs already this year, and over three hundred dogs since I founded the organization seven years ago. Over three hundred dogs!” Even from where I stand toward the back of the crowd, I can see that Sybil’s eyes are shining.
