Will sat on the couch when a familiar weight beside him jostled him, and he looked over at Oliver and smiled halfheartedly. The dog's dark brown eyes were needy, desiring the most basic of needs: love. Dogs were so simple, so easy. Will reached over and stroked the soft fur behind Oliver's floppy ears, and the dog dropped his head down on Will's lap.
This was how it had all started. He had gotten Oliver a few years back when an old up the road neighbor had a heart attack. The dog had just outgrown puppyhood and was now going to be homeless, but Will had seen the sadness in the creature's eyes (but had not felt it overwhelmingly as he had with abandoned humans) and knew he had to take him home. It was company without the stress of actual company. Shortly after he noticed the strays around the area and was reminded of how lonely he was, and how lonely Oliver was but could never express it. They were drawn to Will as if he were one of them himself, an animal in a human suit. He sheparded them all in to his house one by one, and they all wore that same familiar look in their large, orb-like eyes: Pure happiness.
Seven food bowls now sat in his kitchen, slobbery and shuffled all around with bits of kibble strewn about, but Will didn't mind the mess. It was worth it to not feel so alone for a while.