I’d been past the big room so many times, and looked longingly out to the sea and blueness, or even to the dark gray clouds of storms, and this day, he led me in. “Come.” He unclipped the leash and gestured. “We can lie on the sofa next to the viewing window. I’ve decided you’ve progressed enough to be allowed this.” Watching him from the corner of my eyes, I crept forward, taking small steps. I’d been restricted to such a small part of the house for so many weeks that this was...I drew in a breath and looked around...like a dream. When he sat on the sofa, I was still unsure, so I kneeled at his feet. Though I’d done this a hundred times, I knew how wrong this was, kneeling to him, but I accepted it was my lot, for the moment. It was my life, for the moment. When that moment would end, I didn’t know. I was waiting, in limbo, and in limbo, it was fine to be his obedient creature. I survived.
