Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“The Package” by NightEyes DaySpring
18th June 2025 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:18:25

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Sometimes the things we miss the most in life are the little things, as Theo is about to find out…

Today’s story is “The Package” by NightEyes DaySpring, a known troublemaker who is rumored to have a penchant for coffee and an interest in dead, ancient civilizations. Information about him and his writing can be found at nighteyes-dayspring.com.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-package-by-nighteyes-dayspring

Transcripts

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog. This

Speaker:

is

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Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is “The

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Package”

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by

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NightEyes

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DaySpring,

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a

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known

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troublemaker

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who

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is

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rumored

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to

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have

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a

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penchant

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for

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coffee

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and

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an

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interest

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in

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dead,

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ancient

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civilizations.

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Information

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about

Speaker:

him

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and

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his

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writing

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can

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be

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found

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at

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nighteyes-dayspring.com.

It

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is

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sadly

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common

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to

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live

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life

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

expectations

lowered:

lowered:

by

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discrimination,

lowered:

by

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loneliness,

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by

lowered:

having

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what

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is

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the

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bare

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minimum

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for

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straight

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couples

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be

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for

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years

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out

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of

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reach.

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Too

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many

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of

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us

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know

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what

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it

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is

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to

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be

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starving

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but

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incapable

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of

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asking

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for

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more.

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But

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in

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this

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state

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it

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is

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possible

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for

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the

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smallest

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gestures,

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too

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small

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to

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be

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meaningful

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to

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any

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but

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ourselves,

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to

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mean

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the

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world.

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Perhaps the

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lesson

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is

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not

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to

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expect

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more

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from

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the

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world,

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but

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to

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be

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prouder

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of

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triumphs

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so

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small

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they are

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visible

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only

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to

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ourselves.

Please

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enjoy


“The

lowered:

Package”

lowered:

by

lowered:

NightEyes DaySpring

“It’s

lowered:

only

lowered:

for four months,”

lowered:

Theo

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told me

lowered:

when

lowered:

he

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was

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leaving. “You

lowered:

know

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I

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can’t

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pass

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up

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this

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opportunity,

lowered:

Felix.”
I

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wanted

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to

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argue

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then,

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I

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wanted

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to

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scream

lowered:

that

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he

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didn’t

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need

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to

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go,

lowered:

but

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I

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couldn’t

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argue

lowered:

the

lowered:

fact.

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A

lowered:

chance

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to

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work

lowered:

in

lowered:

that

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lab

lowered:

definitely

lowered:

wasn’t

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something

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he

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could

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pass

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up.

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We’d

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been

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over

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this

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before,

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and

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it

lowered:

was

lowered:

my

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anxiety

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that

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was

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talking

lowered:

now.

lowered:

Theo had

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already

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spent

lowered:

years

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on

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his

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doctorate, so

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when

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opportunity

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came

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travel

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to

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leading

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university

lowered:

in

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his

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field,

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because

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they

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wanted

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him

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there

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for

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the

lowered:

spring

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semester,

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who

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was

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to

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tell

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him

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no?
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okay,

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we’ll

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talk

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often,”

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he

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added, and

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reached

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out

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to

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brush

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my

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I

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knew

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he

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could

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smell

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my

lowered:

worry. It

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was

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palpable

lowered:

enough

lowered:

that

lowered:

I

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thought

lowered:

I

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could

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smell

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it

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too.
I

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nodded.

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We

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were

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on

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the

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East

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Coast

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because

lowered:

my

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own

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had

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brought

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us

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here, and

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now

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I

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was

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continuing

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on

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with a

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postdoc.

lowered:

Theo had

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only

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applied

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to

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university

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because

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it

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game

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in

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town.

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wanted

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to

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together,

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it

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out,

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so

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we

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were,

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two

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wolves

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working

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hard

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to

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achieve

lowered:

their

lowered:

dreams.

lowered:

I

lowered:

had

lowered:

landed

lowered:

in

lowered:

a

lowered:

prestigious

lowered:

department,

lowered:

and

lowered:

Theo…well,

lowered:

he

lowered:

had

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to

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make

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an

lowered:

opportunity

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for

lowered:

himself.

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To

lowered:

his

lowered:

credit,

lowered:

my

lowered:

better

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half

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had,

lowered:

but

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now

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that

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opportunity

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was

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calling

lowered:

him

lowered:

away.
“I

lowered:

understand,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

whispered.

lowered:

My

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ears

lowered:

lowered,

lowered:

and

lowered:

he

lowered:

put

lowered:

his

lowered:

paws

lowered:

on

lowered:

both

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sides

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of

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my

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muzzle

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and

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tilted

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it

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up

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so

lowered:

he

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could

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lick

lowered:

my

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nose. While

lowered:

I

lowered:

had

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a

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typical

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gray-and-yellow

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pelt,

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Theo’s

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was

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black,

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barely

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tinged

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with

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any

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white. His

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robust

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laugh

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and

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the

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fact

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that

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he

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was

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just

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a

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little

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taller

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than

lowered:

me

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had

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drawn

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me

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to

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him

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way

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back

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in

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undergrad.

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Since

lowered:

we

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wanted

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to

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attend

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grad

lowered:

school,

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we

lowered:

had

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something

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about,

lowered:

and

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I

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really

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did

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appreciate

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his

lowered:

drive

lowered:

to

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succeed.

lowered:

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matched

lowered:

my

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own.

lowered:

We’d

lowered:

been

lowered:

together

lowered:

ever

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since.
“Four

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months,

lowered:

and

lowered:

I

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can

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get

lowered:

what

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I

lowered:

need

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to

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finish

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my

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degree.

lowered:

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when

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I

lowered:

graduate,

lowered:

you

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should

lowered:

be

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finishing

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up

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your

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postdoc,

lowered:

and

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we’ll

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find

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a

lowered:

university

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that

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wants

lowered:

us

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both.”

lowered:

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smiled

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then

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reassure

lowered:

me,

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giving

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his tail a

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soft

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wag.
“I’m

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still not

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sure

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what

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going

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to

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do

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with a

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PhD

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in

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Computer

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Science

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and

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History,” I

lowered:

responded. “The

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history

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and

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evolution

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of

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programming

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language syntax

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is

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a

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bit

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of

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an

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esoteric

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topic,

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and

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there’s

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plenty

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of

lowered:

history

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majors.

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There are

lowered:

only

lowered:

a

lowered:

few

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biomechanical

lowered:

engineers

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with

lowered:

your

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specialty.”
“See,

lowered:

this

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is

lowered:

where

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you’re

lowered:

letting

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your

lowered:

depression

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get

lowered:

to

lowered:

you,

lowered:

and

lowered:

you’re

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falling

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back

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on

lowered:

that.

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still

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good

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lowered:

so

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you

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could

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go

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into

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industry.

lowered:

Anyway,

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your

lowered:

field

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is

lowered:

still

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developing.”
Even

lowered:

with

lowered:

my

lowered:

worry,

lowered:

I

lowered:

could

lowered:

feel

lowered:

my

lowered:

tail

lowered:

thumping.

lowered:

It,

lowered:

at

lowered:

least,

lowered:

could

lowered:

be

lowered:

enthusiastic,

lowered:

even

lowered:

though

lowered:

I

lowered:

felt

lowered:

like

lowered:

a

lowered:

wreck.

lowered:

Damn,

lowered:

I

lowered:

hated

lowered:

how

lowered:

well

lowered:

he

lowered:

knew

lowered:

me.
“I

lowered:

know,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

said

lowered:

again.

lowered:

I

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took

lowered:

in

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a

lowered:

deep

lowered:

breath

lowered:

and blinked. “You’ll

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miss

lowered:

your

lowered:

flight

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if

lowered:

you

lowered:

stay

lowered:

any

lowered:

longer.”
Theo’s

lowered:

ears

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flicked

lowered:

back,

lowered:

and

lowered:

he

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nodded. “You

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be

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strong

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for

lowered:

me,

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okay?”
“I’ll

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do

lowered:

my

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best.”
Theo

lowered:

nodded

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and

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wanted

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to

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say

lowered:

something

lowered:

else,

lowered:

but

lowered:

his

lowered:

phone

lowered:

pinged. He

lowered:

picked

lowered:

it

lowered:

up

lowered:

to

lowered:

check

lowered:

it. “My

lowered:

ride

lowered:

is

lowered:

here.”
I

lowered:

got

lowered:

off

lowered:

the

lowered:

bed

lowered:

and then

lowered:

kissed

lowered:

him

lowered:

with

lowered:

everything

lowered:

I

lowered:

had,

lowered:

wrapping

lowered:

my

lowered:

arms

lowered:

around

lowered:

him.

lowered:

I

lowered:

squeezed

lowered:

so

lowered:

hard

lowered:

that

lowered:

I

lowered:

felt

lowered:

him

lowered:

gasp

lowered:

before

lowered:

I

lowered:

let

lowered:

him

lowered:

go. “You

lowered:

knock ’em

lowered:

dead!”
“I

lowered:

will,”

lowered:

he

lowered:

replied, and

lowered:

then

lowered:

he

lowered:

returned

lowered:

my

lowered:

kiss.

lowered:

He

lowered:

then

lowered:

reached

lowered:

for

lowered:

his

lowered:

backpack,

lowered:

and

lowered:

paws

lowered:

intertwined,

lowered:

I

lowered:

walked

lowered:

him

lowered:

downstairs

lowered:

and

lowered:

out

lowered:

of

lowered:

our

lowered:

apartment.

lowered:

We

lowered:

held

lowered:

hands

lowered:

all

lowered:

the

lowered:

way

lowered:

to

lowered:

the

lowered:

car.

lowered:

If

lowered:

the

lowered:

ride share

lowered:

driver

lowered:

gave

lowered:

a

lowered:

shit,

lowered:

well,

lowered:

that

lowered:

was

lowered:

on

lowered:

him.

lowered:

Anyone

lowered:

doing

lowered:

rides at 4 a.m.

lowered:

probably

lowered:

saw

lowered:

a

lowered:

lot

lowered:

of

lowered:

weird

lowered:

shit.

lowered:

Two

lowered:

guys

lowered:

kissing

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

dark

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

freezing

lowered:

cold of

lowered:

January

lowered:

and

lowered:

then

lowered:

separating

lowered:

as

lowered:

one of

lowered:

them

lowered:

got

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

car?

lowered:

That

lowered:

wasn’t

lowered:

weird

lowered:

at

lowered:

all.
I

lowered:

watched

lowered:

as

lowered:

Theo’s

lowered:

car

lowered:

drove

lowered:

down

lowered:

the

lowered:

street,

lowered:

made a

lowered:

left,

lowered:

and

lowered:

was

lowered:

gone.

lowered:

And

lowered:

then

lowered:

I

lowered:

went

lowered:

back

lowered:

to

lowered:

the

lowered:

apartment,

lowered:

surrounded

lowered:

by

lowered:

his

lowered:

scent,

lowered:

and

lowered:

waited.
Now,

lowered:

nine

lowered:

months

lowered:

later,

lowered:

Theo’s

lowered:

still

lowered:

gone.

lowered:

He

lowered:

scent

lowered:

is

lowered:

completely

lowered:

fucking

lowered:

gone

lowered:

from

lowered:

the

lowered:

apartment.

lowered:

One semester

lowered:

became

lowered:

two,

lowered:

and

lowered:

then

lowered:

they

lowered:

still

lowered:

wanted

lowered:

him

lowered:

there?

lowered:

Why

lowered:

did

lowered:

I

lowered:

think

lowered:

anything

lowered:

about

lowered:

getting

lowered:

a

lowered:

PhD

lowered:

would

lowered:

be

lowered:

easy and

lowered:

timely?

lowered:

Hell,

lowered:

I

lowered:

knew

lowered:

mine

lowered:

took

lowered:

an

lowered:

extra

lowered:

year

lowered:

just

lowered:

because

lowered:

my

lowered:

advisor

lowered:

decided it

lowered:

should.

lowered:

At

lowered:

least

lowered:

he’s

lowered:

letting

lowered:

me

lowered:

eke

lowered:

out

lowered:

another

lowered:

year

lowered:

on

lowered:

my

lowered:

postdoc,

lowered:

but

lowered:

that

lowered:

hadn’t

lowered:

been

lowered:

easy

lowered:

to

lowered:

negotiate,

lowered:

either.
Climbing

lowered:

those

lowered:

stairs

lowered:

to

lowered:

my

lowered:

fourth-floor

lowered:

apartment—no,

lowered:

our

lowered:

fourth-floor

lowered:

apartment—for

lowered:

the

lowered:

hundredth-plus-something

lowered:

time

lowered:

alone

lowered:

is

lowered:

getting

lowered:

old.

lowered:

It

lowered:

isn’t

lowered:

only the

lowered:

summer

lowered:

heat

lowered:

that is

lowered:

taking

lowered:

a

lowered:

toll

lowered:

on

lowered:

me.

lowered:

I’ve

lowered:

lost

lowered:

weight,

lowered:

and

lowered:

it

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exercise;

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much.
I

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notice

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a

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slip

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on

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my

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letting

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me

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know

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the

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has

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a

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for

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me.

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have

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get

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it

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tomorrow,

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since

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they are

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closed.

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it

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was

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another

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package

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from

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my

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mother.

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She’s started

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sending

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them

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like

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a

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although

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wish

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she’d

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stop

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sending me

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that

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jerky.

lowered:

I

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loved

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it,

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but

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I

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still

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have

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two

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untouched

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bags

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sitting

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in

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the

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pantry.
I’m

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in

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the

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middle

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of

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unlocking

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the

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front

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door when

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my

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neighbor

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pokes

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her

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out. “Fel?”
My

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ear

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flicks

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toward

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her

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as

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I

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hear

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my

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nickname, and

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then

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turn

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toward

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the

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doe. “Hey

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Shelia.”
“Hey,

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so

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Theo

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called.

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He

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told

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me

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get

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your

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package

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for

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you,”

lowered:

she

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says,

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holding

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up

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a

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small

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cardboard

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cube.
“He

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did?”
“Yeah,”

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she

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says,

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handing

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it

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to

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me. “He

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said

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you’d

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want

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it

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now.”
I

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look

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accept it.

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my

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address

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tell

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it

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shipped

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out

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of

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town. “Thanks,”

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I

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say,

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the

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under

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an

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arm.
“Yeah,

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no

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problem.

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Hey,

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if

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you

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want to

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do

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dinner

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this

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weekend,

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let

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me

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know,

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okay?”

lowered:

she

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offers.
“Okay,”

lowered:

I

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say,

lowered:

realizing

lowered:

she

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probably

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talked

lowered:

to

lowered:

Theo

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about

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more

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than

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the

lowered:

package.

lowered:

They

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always

lowered:

did

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like

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chatting

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when

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he

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was

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here.
“Anyway,

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you

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look

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beat,

lowered:

and

lowered:

it’s

lowered:

already

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getting

lowered:

late,

lowered:

so

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get

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some

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rest.

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Hopefully

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I’ll

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hear

lowered:

from

lowered:

you

lowered:

tomorrow.”
I

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nod. “Thanks,

lowered:

let

lowered:

me

lowered:

see

lowered:

how

lowered:

I

lowered:

feel,”

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I

lowered:

respond,

lowered:

knowing

lowered:

I

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just

lowered:

don’t

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have

lowered:

the

lowered:

interest

lowered:

or

lowered:

energy.

lowered:

She’s

lowered:

nice,

lowered:

but

lowered:

she’s

lowered:

not

lowered:

Theo.

lowered:

I

lowered:

have

lowered:

reading

lowered:

to

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catch

lowered:

up

lowered:

on,

lowered:

anyway.
She

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doesn’t

lowered:

say

lowered:

anything

lowered:

but

lowered:

lets me

lowered:

walk

lowered:

into

lowered:

the

lowered:

apartment

lowered:

and

lowered:

close

lowered:

the

lowered:

door

lowered:

after

lowered:

I

lowered:

grab

lowered:

the

lowered:

slip.

lowered:

I

lowered:

put

lowered:

the

lowered:

package

lowered:

down

lowered:

on

lowered:

the

lowered:

counter

lowered:

and

lowered:

toss

lowered:

the

lowered:

slip

lowered:

into

lowered:

the

lowered:

trash.

lowered:

Putting

lowered:

my

lowered:

work

lowered:

bag

lowered:

down

lowered:

by

lowered:

my

lowered:

computer

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

spare

lowered:

bedroom,

lowered:

I

lowered:

glance at

lowered:

the

lowered:

other

lowered:

desk

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

room,

lowered:

the

lowered:

one

lowered:

that has

lowered:

been

lowered:

vacant

lowered:

for

lowered:

nine

lowered:

months.

lowered:

I

lowered:

used

lowered:

to

lowered:

be

lowered:

able

lowered:

to

lowered:

tell

lowered:

when

lowered:

Theo

lowered:

was

lowered:

concentrating

lowered:

from

lowered:

across

lowered:

the

lowered:

room

lowered:

due to

lowered:

the

lowered:

slow

lowered:

wag

lowered:

of

lowered:

his

lowered:

tail, with

lowered:

the

lowered:

way

lowered:

it

lowered:

stuck

lowered:

out

lowered:

and

lowered:

brushed

lowered:

against

lowered:

the

lowered:

back

lowered:

of

lowered:

his

lowered:

chair.

lowered:

The

lowered:

feeling

lowered:

of

lowered:

him

lowered:

there

lowered:

with

lowered:

me

lowered:

always

lowered:

made

lowered:

the

lowered:

long

lowered:

hours

lowered:

of

lowered:

working

lowered:

worth

lowered:

it,

lowered:

but

lowered:

I

lowered:

haven’t

lowered:

heard

lowered:

that

lowered:

sound

lowered:

in

lowered:

so

lowered:

long.
The

lowered:

ringing

lowered:

of

lowered:

my

lowered:

phone

lowered:

startles

lowered:

me,

lowered:

and

lowered:

I

lowered:

pull

lowered:

it

lowered:

from

lowered:

my

lowered:

pocket.

lowered:

It’s Theo.
“Hey,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

say. “I

lowered:

got

lowered:

your

lowered:

package.”
“I

lowered:

know,

lowered:

Shelia

lowered:

told

lowered:

me.”
My

lowered:

ears

lowered:

splay

lowered:

at

lowered:

that. “Do

lowered:

you

lowered:

have

lowered:

her

lowered:

spying

lowered:

on

lowered:

me

lowered:

now?”
There’s

lowered:

a

lowered:

soft

lowered:

laugh. “I

lowered:

just

lowered:

wanted

lowered:

to

lowered:

make

lowered:

sure

lowered:

you

lowered:

got

lowered:

the

lowered:

package

lowered:

before

lowered:

the

lowered:

three-day

lowered:

weekend.

lowered:

The

lowered:

office

lowered:

will

lowered:

be

lowered:

closed

lowered:

till

lowered:

Tuesday.”
“Oh,

lowered:

you’re

lowered:

right.”

lowered:

I

lowered:

forgot

lowered:

that

lowered:

Labor

lowered:

Day

lowered:

is

lowered:

Monday.

lowered:

Hell,

lowered:

it

lowered:

barely

lowered:

registers

lowered:

to

lowered:

me

lowered:

that

lowered:

today

lowered:

is

lowered:

Friday. “Time

lowered:

flies

lowered:

when

lowered:

you’re

lowered:

busy.”
He gives

lowered:

a

lowered:

soft

lowered:

woof. “Ain’t

lowered:

that

lowered:

the

lowered:

truth.”
At

lowered:

least

lowered:

with

lowered:

him

lowered:

on

lowered:

the

lowered:

phone,

lowered:

I

lowered:

can

lowered:

cherish

lowered:

him

lowered:

for

lowered:

a

lowered:

bit,

lowered:

before

lowered:

I

lowered:

have

lowered:

to

lowered:

crawl

lowered:

into

lowered:

the

lowered:

bed

lowered:

alone.

lowered:

I

lowered:

should

lowered:

eat

lowered:

something,

lowered:

but

lowered:

somehow

lowered:

dinner

lowered:

just

lowered:

doesn’t

lowered:

seem

lowered:

appetizing

lowered:

right

lowered:

now. “How

lowered:

are

lowered:

things

lowered:

going?”

lowered:

I

lowered:

ask,

lowered:

wandering

lowered:

into

lowered:

the

lowered:

living

lowered:

room.
There

lowered:

is

lowered:

a

lowered:

sigh

lowered:

on

lowered:

the

lowered:

other

lowered:

end

lowered:

of

lowered:

the

lowered:

line. “They

lowered:

want

lowered:

me

lowered:

to

lowered:

stay

lowered:

for

lowered:

another

lowered:

three

lowered:

months.”
I

lowered:

freeze. “Three

lowered:

more

lowered:

months?”
“Yeah,

lowered:

and

lowered:

it’s

lowered:

hot

lowered:

garbage.

lowered:

I

lowered:

let

lowered:

them

lowered:

talk to

lowered:

me

lowered:

into

lowered:

the

lowered:

summer,

lowered:

and

lowered:

then

lowered:

the

lowered:

first

lowered:

month of

lowered:

the

lowered:

fall semester,

lowered:

but

lowered:

now

lowered:

they

lowered:

want

lowered:

me

lowered:

stay

lowered:

all

lowered:

the

lowered:

way

lowered:

till

lowered:

December?

lowered:

I

lowered:

love

lowered:

the lab,

lowered:

but I

lowered:

can’t

lowered:

do

lowered:

it.”
I

lowered:

can

lowered:

feel

lowered:

my

lowered:

chest

lowered:

tightening. “Honey,

lowered:

what

lowered:

are

lowered:

you

lowered:

going to

lowered:

do?”
Theo

lowered:

was

lowered:

silent

lowered:

for

lowered:

a

lowered:

moment. “I’m

lowered:

thinking

lowered:

of

lowered:

cashing

lowered:

out

lowered:

with

lowered:

a

lowered:

master’s

lowered:

degree

lowered:

and

lowered:

calling

lowered:

it

lowered:

over.”
“Theo…

lowered:

you’re

lowered:

six

lowered:

years

lowered:

in,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

say.

lowered:

Even in

lowered:

my

lowered:

most

lowered:

depressed

lowered:

moments,

lowered:

the

lowered:

blunt

lowered:

reality

lowered:

of

lowered:

getting

lowered:

a

lowered:

PhD

lowered:

still

lowered:

sets

lowered:

in.

lowered:

These

lowered:

things

lowered:

always

lowered:

take

lowered:

longer

lowered:

to

lowered:

earn

lowered:

than

lowered:

they

lowered:

tell

lowered:

you

lowered:

it will.
“Yeah,

lowered:

I

lowered:

am. It’s

lowered:

supposed

lowered:

to

lowered:

be

lowered:

a

lowered:

five-year

lowered:

program,

lowered:

but

lowered:

at

lowered:

this

lowered:

rate

lowered:

it’s

lowered:

looking

lowered:

like

lowered:

it’ll

lowered:

be

lowered:

at

lowered:

least

lowered:

another

lowered:

year

lowered:

on

lowered:

top

lowered:

of

lowered:

the

lowered:

six.”
I

lowered:

somehow

lowered:

manage

lowered:

to

lowered:

find

lowered:

myself

lowered:

on

lowered:

the

lowered:

couch. “Theo…

lowered:

you…”

lowered:

God,

lowered:

I

lowered:

don’t

lowered:

want

lowered:

to

lowered:

do

lowered:

this.
“Need

lowered:

to

lowered:

stay?”
I

lowered:

give

lowered:

a

lowered:

soft

lowered:

woof

lowered:

in

lowered:

response.
He

lowered:

takes

lowered:

a

lowered:

deep

lowered:

breath. “For

lowered:

what,

lowered:

Fel,

lowered:

so

lowered:

my

lowered:

advisor

lowered:

can

lowered:

keep

lowered:

jerking

lowered:

me

lowered:

around?”
“You

lowered:

need

lowered:

your

lowered:

degree.”
He

lowered:

sighs. “Fel,

lowered:

how

lowered:

long

lowered:

has

lowered:

it

lowered:

been

lowered:

since

lowered:

you’ve

lowered:

seen

lowered:

me?”
“Seven

lowered:

months.”
“And

lowered:

that

lowered:

was

lowered:

for

lowered:

barely

lowered:

more

lowered:

than

lowered:

a

lowered:

weekend.

lowered:

Four

lowered:

fucking

lowered:

days

lowered:

in

lowered:

seven

lowered:

months!”

lowered:

he

lowered:

growled into

lowered:

the

lowered:

phone.
“Theo…”
“Felix… it’s 9

lowered:

p.m.

lowered:

and

lowered:

you’re

lowered:

just

lowered:

getting

lowered:

home.

lowered:

You

lowered:

can’t

lowered:

tell

lowered:

me

lowered:

this

lowered:

is

lowered:

easy

lowered:

for

lowered:

you,

lowered:

either.”
My

lowered:

tail

lowered:

curls

lowered:

defensively,

lowered:

even

lowered:

though

lowered:

he

lowered:

can’t

lowered:

see

lowered:

it. “I

lowered:

was

lowered:

working.”
“Were

lowered:

you?”

lowered:

he

lowered:

asks.
Damn,

lowered:

I

lowered:

hate

lowered:

that

lowered:

he

lowered:

can

lowered:

still

lowered:

read

lowered:

me

lowered:

so

lowered:

well. “I

lowered:

was

lowered:

trying

lowered:

to.

lowered:

I

lowered:

didn’t

lowered:

get

lowered:

much

lowered:

done.”
Theo sighs

lowered:

again. “Fel,

lowered:

this

lowered:

isn’t

lowered:

working.

lowered:

Not

lowered:

us

lowered:

I

lowered:

mean,

lowered:

this

lowered:

arrangement.”
I

lowered:

pick

lowered:

at

lowered:

the

lowered:

tip

lowered:

of

lowered:

my tail with a

lowered:

claw. “The

lowered:

life

lowered:

of

lowered:

an

lowered:

academic.

lowered:

You

lowered:

go

lowered:

where

lowered:

the

lowered:

work

lowered:

is, and

lowered:

hopefully

lowered:

that’s someplace

lowered:

you

lowered:

like.”
“Look,

lowered:

I’m

lowered:

going

lowered:

to

lowered:

finish

lowered:

the

lowered:

month

lowered:

out,

lowered:

and

lowered:

come

lowered:

home

lowered:

as

lowered:

planned.

lowered:

If

lowered:

that

lowered:

doesn’t

lowered:

work

lowered:

for

lowered:

them

lowered:

and

lowered:

my

lowered:

advisor

lowered:

gives

lowered:

me

lowered:

shit,

lowered:

I’ll

lowered:

see

lowered:

if

lowered:

someone

lowered:

else

lowered:

in

lowered:

the

lowered:

department

lowered:

will

lowered:

take

lowered:

me.

lowered:

If

lowered:

no

lowered:

one

lowered:

will,

lowered:

I’m

lowered:

going

lowered:

to

lowered:

bounce.”
“Theo,

lowered:

I

lowered:

can

lowered:

hold

lowered:

on

lowered:

a

lowered:

little

lowered:

longer,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

offer. “It’s

lowered:

rough,

lowered:

but

lowered:

I

lowered:

can

lowered:

do

lowered:

this.”
“You

lowered:

shouldn’t

lowered:

have

lowered:

to.

lowered:

Anyway,

lowered:

did

lowered:

you

lowered:

open

lowered:

the

lowered:

package?”
“Uh,

lowered:

no.”
“Go

lowered:

open

lowered:

the

lowered:

package

lowered:

first

lowered:

and

lowered:

tell

lowered:

me

lowered:

then

lowered:

that

lowered:

you

lowered:

can

lowered:

wait

lowered:

three

lowered:

more

lowered:

months

lowered:

for

lowered:

me

lowered:

to

lowered:

come

lowered:

home.”
I

lowered:

frown and

lowered:

get

lowered:

up

lowered:

to

lowered:

get

lowered:

the

lowered:

box. “I

lowered:

don’t

lowered:

understand.”
“You

lowered:

will

lowered:

in

lowered:

a

lowered:

second,”

lowered:

he

lowered:

says as

lowered:

I

lowered:

pick

lowered:

up

lowered:

the

lowered:

box

lowered:

and

lowered:

attempt

lowered:

to

lowered:

slip

lowered:

a

lowered:

claw

lowered:

under

lowered:

the

lowered:

tape

lowered:

to

lowered:

tug

lowered:

at

lowered:

it,

lowered:

but

lowered:

to

lowered:

no

lowered:

avail.
“You

lowered:

can

lowered:

use

lowered:

scissors,

lowered:

you

lowered:

know!”

lowered:

he

lowered:

laughs,

lowered:

obviously

lowered:

realizing

lowered:

what

lowered:

I’m

lowered:

doing

lowered:

from

lowered:

the

lowered:

sounds

lowered:

of

lowered:

me

lowered:

struggling.
“Whatever.

lowered:

I

lowered:

need

lowered:

to

lowered:

trim

lowered:

my

lowered:

claws, so

lowered:

they’re

lowered:

a

lowered:

little

lowered:

sharper

lowered:

than

lowered:

normal,”

lowered:

I

lowered:

respond,

lowered:

finally

lowered:

getting

lowered:

one

lowered:

under

lowered:

the

lowered:

tape and

lowered:

using

lowered:

it to slice the

lowered:

box

lowered:

open.

lowered:

I

lowered:

flip

lowered:

open

lowered:

the

lowered:

cube

lowered:

and

lowered:

am

lowered:

greeted

lowered:

with

lowered:

a

lowered:

ziplock

lowered:

bag

lowered:

full

lowered:

of

lowered:

black

lowered:

fur. “What

lowered:

the…

lowered:

Is

lowered:

this

lowered:

your

lowered:

shed

lowered:

fur?”
“Yeah.”
I

lowered:

pull

lowered:

out

lowered:

the

lowered:

bag

lowered:

and

lowered:

closely

lowered:

examine

lowered:

the

lowered:

contents, letting

lowered:

the

lowered:

box

lowered:

drop

lowered:

to

lowered:

the

lowered:

floor. “Why

lowered:

did

lowered:

you—”
I

lowered:

pop

lowered:

it

lowered:

open,

lowered:

and

lowered:

then

lowered:

the

lowered:

scent

lowered:

hits

lowered:

me.

lowered:

His

lowered:

scent,

lowered:

warm

lowered:

and

lowered:

comforting.

lowered:

His

lowered:

scent

lowered:

enveloping

lowered:

me

lowered:

as

lowered:

we

lowered:

lay

lowered:

on

lowered:

the

lowered:

bed

lowered:

together.

lowered:

His

lowered:

scent

lowered:

as

lowered:

he

lowered:

does

lowered:

his

lowered:

schoolwork.

lowered:

The

lowered:

thing

lowered:

that’s

lowered:

been

lowered:

missing

lowered:

from

lowered:

my

lowered:

life.

lowered:

Everything

lowered:

I’ve

lowered:

dreamed

lowered:

of,

lowered:

and

lowered:

cried

lowered:

over,

lowered:

for

months:

months:

it’s all right

months:

here

months:

in

months:

this

months:

bag.
“Felix?”
My

months:

mind

months:

is

months:

racing. “I…

months:

forgot

months:

how

months:

strong

months:

it

months:

was.”
Theo gives a

months:

soft,

months:

affectionate

months:

whine. “Scent

months:

memory

months:

is

months:

a

months:

powerful

months:

thing.

months:

We

months:

forget

months:

about

months:

it

months:

sometimes, but

months:

the

months:

last

months:

time

months:

I gave myself

months:

a

months:

good

months:

brushing,

months:

I

months:

was

months:

thinking

months:

about

months:

how

months:

you

months:

used

months:

to

months:

help

months:

me

months:

do

months:

that,

months:

and

months:

how

months:

much

months:

I’ve

months:

missed

months:

you.

months:

I

months:

made

months:

up

months:

my

months:

mind

months:

then,

months:

and

months:

I

months:

decided

months:

to

months:

collect

months:

a

months:

good

months:

chunk

months:

of

months:

my

months:

shed

months:

fur

months:

and

months:

put

months:

it

months:

into

months:

the

months:

bag

months:

for

months:

you.”
I

months:

sit

months:

back

months:

down

months:

on

months:

the

months:

couch,

months:

processing

months:

all

months:

the

months:

memories

months:

the scent

months:

brings

months:

to

months:

me.

months:

Us

months:

kissing. Us

months:

holding

months:

hands.

months:

Dinner,

months:

movies,

months:

lovemaking,

months:

everything

months:

we

months:

did

months:

together. “It’s

months:

weird

months:

how

months:

the

months:

mind

months:

works,”

months:

I

months:

finally

months:

say.
He

months:

sighs. “I

months:

miss

months:

you

months:

so

months:

much.

months:

I

months:

can

months:

barely

months:

remember

months:

what

months:

you

months:

smell

months:

like.

months:

Now

months:

do

months:

you

months:

see

months:

why

months:

I

months:

need

months:

to

months:

come

months:

home?”
Normally

months:

we’re

months:

always

months:

trying

months:

to

months:

get

months:

shed

months:

fur

months:

off the furniture

months:

or our clothes to

months:

at

months:

least

months:

look

months:

presentable,

months:

but

months:

here

months:

I

months:

am,

months:

a bag

months:

of

months:

his

months:

shed fur in my paws, and I realize how

months:

it’s

months:

not

months:

just

months:

his

months:

scent

months:

that’s

months:

missing

months:

from

months:

this

months:

apartment,

months:

but

months:

his

months:

black

months:

fur

months:

on

months:

my

months:

sheets

months:

or

months:

my

months:

shorts.

months:

I

months:

can’t

months:

remember

months:

the

months:

last

months:

time the

months:

lint

months:

roller

months:

pulled

months:

up

months:

anything

months:

but

months:

gray

months:

and

months:

yellow

months:

fur.
“Yeah,

months:

yeah,

months:

I

months:

do,

months:

but

months:

I

months:

can’t

months:

let

months:

you

months:

just

months:

throw

months:

in

months:

the

months:

towel

months:

after

months:

you

months:

worked

months:

so

months:

hard.

months:

I

months:

can

months:

send

months:

you

months:

some of

months:

my

months:

own

months:

fur,

months:

after

months:

I

months:

brush

months:

tomorrow.”
I

months:

hear

months:

his

months:

voice

months:

hitch. “I’d

months:

like

months:

that,

months:

but

months:

no.

months:

That

months:

would

months:

only

months:

encourage

months:

me

months:

to

months:

stick

months:

it

months:

out.”
“Yes,

months:

but

months:

your

months:

research,

months:

and

months:

the

months:

project!”
“I’ve

months:

got

months:

a

months:

month.

months:

And

months:

I’m

months:

going

months:

to

months:

give

months:

it

months:

my

months:

all,

months:

but

months:

I

months:

can

months:

only

months:

do

months:

what

months:

I

months:

can

months:

do.”
My tail

months:

thumps,

months:

betraying

months:

my

months:

excitement

months:

that

months:

he is

months:

coming

months:

home

months:

soon,

months:

but

months:

I

months:

push

months:

the

months:

rational

months:

part

months:

of

months:

my

months:

mind

months:

forward. “Theo,

months:

I

months:

can

months:

make

months:

it

months:

to

months:

December.”
“Fel, I’m…not

months:

sure

months:

I

months:

can.”
I

months:

feel

months:

those

months:

words

months:

in

months:

my

months:

soul.

months:

The

months:

isolation

months:

hasn’t

months:

just

months:

been

months:

mine

months:

alone.

months:

I

months:

think

months:

of

months:

where

months:

he’s

months:

staying

now:

now:

he

now:

has

now:

his

now:

own

now:

room,

now:

his

now:

own

now:

bathroom,

now:

but

now:

beyond

now:

that,

now:

the

now:

space

now:

is

now:

fairly

now:

basic.

now:

We’d

now:

tried

now:

to

now:

sleep

now:

together

now:

on

now:

the

now:

twin

now:

bed

now:

in

now:

the

now:

room,

now:

but

now:

there

now:

wasn’t

now:

space

now:

for

now:

both

now:

of

now:

us

now:

and

now:

he

now:

ended

now:

up

now:

sleeping

now:

on

now:

the

now:

floor.

now:

I’ve

now:

had

now:

the

now:

luxury

now:

of

now:

at

now:

least

now:

still

now:

being

now:

in

now:

what

now:

was

now:

once

now:

our

now:

home

now:

together.

now:

He’s

now:

had

now:

to

now:

navigate

now:

a

now:

new

now:

city

now:

on

now:

his

now:

own

now:

without

now:

anyone to

now:

share

now:

the

now:

experiences

now:

with.
“I

now:

understand,”

now:

I

now:

say. “I

now:

just

now:

hope

now:

your

now:

advisor

now:

does

now:

too.”
He

now:

snorts

now:

into

now:

the

now:

phone. “If

now:

not,

now:

they

now:

can

now:

talk

now:

to

now:

the

now:

dean

now:

about

now:

how

now:

they

now:

lost

now:

yet

now:

another

now:

grad

now:

student.

now:

Anyway,

now:

let’s

now:

see

now:

how

now:

the

now:

month

now:

goes

now:

before

now:

I

now:

get

now:

into

now:

doom-and-gloom

now:

mode.”
“Yeah…”

now:

I

now:

sniff

now:

at

now:

the

now:

bag

now:

of

now:

fur

now:

again. “I

now:

miss

now:

you

now:

a

now:

lot,

now:

Theo.”
“Soon,

now:

my

now:

wolf,

now:

I

now:

will

now:

be

now:

back

now:

in

now:

your

now:

arms,

now:

and

now:

you

now:

won’t

now:

have

now:

to

now:

dump

now:

fur

now:

on

now:

the

now:

couch.”
My

now:

ears

now:

go

now:

up. “What

now:

do

now:

you

now:

think

now:

I’m

now:

going

now:

to

now:

do

now:

with

now:

this,

now:

roll

now:

in

now:

it?”

now:

I

now:

ask,

now:

and

now:

this

now:

time,

now:

my

now:

tone

now:

feels

now:

lighter,

now:

almost

now:

as

now:

if

now:

a

now:

weight

now:

has

now:

been

now:

lifted

now:

from

now:

me.
He

now:

laughs,

now:

and

now:

suddenly

now:

I’m

now:

reminded

now:

of

now:

the

now:

handsome

now:

wolf

now:

I

now:

met

now:

back

now:

in

now:

undergrad

now:

who

now:

was

now:

only

now:

then

now:

starting

now:

to

now:

take

now:

this

now:

college

now:

thing

now:

seriously. “That’s

now:

what

now:

I’d

now:

do.”



This

now:

was “The

now:

Package”

now:

by

now:

NightEyes

now:

DaySpring,

now:

read

now:

for you

now:

by

now:

Rob MacWolf,

now:

Werewolf

now:

Hitchhiker.

now:

You

now:

can

now:

find

now:

more

now:

stories

now:

on

now:

the

now:

web

now:

at thevoice.dog,

now:

or

now:

find

now:

the

now:

show

now:

wherever

now:

you

now:

get

now:

your

now:

podcasts.

now:

Happy

now:

Pride,

now:

and

now:

Thank

now:

you

now:

for

now:

listening

now:

to

now:

The

now:

Voice

now:

of

now:

Dog.

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