The line rang for a second, then someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Jeffery Randall, we used to know each other in-"

"Oh My God, Jeff! How are you?!"

Jeff stepped into his shower, washing off the crimson blood dripping from the gash on his arm. "Oh my gosh, this hurts. . ." He silently whispered, grabbing some soap and carefully rubbing it on his gash.

After a few moments of silence, there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Jeff?" asked a raspy voice. "Go away, Sumo." Jeff quietly said, rubbing the soap on the wound faster. "Jeff, are you okay?" Sumo asked another question, causing Jeff to growl.

"Is he okay, Sumo?" He heard Clarence ask, he was sniffling through the words.

He thought Jeff was going to die from rabies when the dog clearly didn't have any.

"I don't know, he doesn't want to talk to me." Sumo said. "Can you guys please go away?" Jeff asked, trying not to sound angry. In the other room, Sumo and Clarence exchanged worried glances and Clarence moved his hand to open the door. But Sumo grabbed his hand and shook his head. Jeff looked down, feeling guilty for yelling at his friends for something he couldn't control, something they couldn't control. All he could hear the running of the shower water and his own breathing. He touched the shower knob in order to turn the hot water down, but quickly reeled back his hand, feeling a burning sensation. "What the. . .?" He question why the silver knob burned his hand, looking at it with pure confusion. He grabbed a washcloth and turned down the hot water to where it was conformable for him. After a few minutes, Jeff stepped out of the shower. He dried himself, brushed his hair and put on some clothes.

He was ready to apologize to his friends.

Jeff walked into his living room, facing Clarence and Sumo. He opened his mouth to say something, but something happened that rocked Jeffery Randall's world, stopping him-

Sumo hugged him. Sumo ran up to him and threw his arms around him.

A few seconds afterward, Clarence ran up to him and hugged him as well. For a pure few seconds, Jeff disregarded his hate for touching and germs, and embraced the feeling of forgiveness.

Those few seconds transformed into a full minute, and they were still hugging. "I'm sorry." He whispered.