Can I just take a moment here to thank so many of you for sharing the love for your own pets with me. For sharing their names, their lives, and letting me experience the love you have for them.

Thank you for trusting me with your babies' memories (insert big heart emoji here LOL)

Chapter 6

The crisp evening air makes me shiver, the conversation no doubt also having a hand in that.

Emotion isn't my strong suit, but I can't even imagine how sad Edward must be right now. My heart is wounded for other people in a way I've not experienced in a very long time. I feel like I'm the one losing Joey, confounded that in such a short time I've begun to have affection for him. And for Edward.

Sympathy and empathy.

Edward reaches for the second bottle and pours the last of it between our two glasses. "So, I guess you've got your story."

Staring at him, watching his sad smile makes a lump form in my throat. "I have the topic, I'm so so far from having the story." I swallow some wine, not wanting to admit I've not done my job very well, but it's making me feel guilty. "I apologize, Edward…"

"Stop, there's no need," he cuts me off. "It's an unusual story I suppose. One that most people wouldn't care about."

"So tell me the story. Make me care." The wine makes me put my hand on his as he plays with the napkin. "Please."

Edward stares at my hand but doesn't move his away. He tips his head back and sighs. "Joey was given to me when I was seventeen, as you know."

I don't say anything, not wanting to disturb his thoughts. Slowly, I move my hand and pull out my phone to start recording. I don't want to miss a thing, and want to give him my undivided attention.

"My parents and I were driving home from a few days up in Portland, my dad was doing some business thing. We were hit head on by a drunk who was driving on the wrong side of the road. I remember my father swerving, but it was too late. It happened around a bend and he didn't see the car in time. They died instantly."

My hand moves to my mouth, to shield a gasp or cover my pity, I don't know. "I'm sorry, Edward," I whisper.

He looks at me. "It's been a long time now." He gets up and stretches, moving his head back and forth before he walks to the edge of the patio. "I was lucky. I was in the hospital for a few days, only a few cuts and scratches. A broken leg. It was then that they discovered I had acute myeloid leukemia."

My eyes bulge at the news, but I stay silent.

"The broken leg actually was a godsend, it turns out." He lets out a sad huff of a laugh. "My white blood count was through the roof and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed it. I hadn't had any symptoms, or so I thought, leading up to the diagnosis. Turns out you're not supposed to bruise that easily, but me being a stupid kid, I thought nothing of it. Skateboard accident here, basketball injury there, you know. Normal teenage boy stuff. What teenager isn't tired all the time and sleeps in on the weekends?" He shrugs.

"I never even had time to mourn my parents. Started chemotherapy immediately and lived in the hospital for eight months. Hooked up to monitors and fighting for my life. Gaunt, lifeless, bald. And practically alone."

My mind goes to what he's described, this larger than life man reduced to nothing but a shell of a boy covered in hospital gowns and wires. "The way you rub your chest…"

"Port. To administer the chemo so my veins wouldn't collapse because I needed so much. Sometimes I still feel it in there, a reminder." He does it now, taps it gently.

"I was luckier than some of the kids in the cancer ward, I lost a lot of friends I'd made who didn't deserve the pain they went through. After eight months, they declared I was well enough to go home, finish outpatient chemo. And that's where Joey came in." He moves back to Joey, and even though he's sound asleep, Edward pulls him up into his arms, holding him tightly.

"I moved into this cottage. My uncle, really the only relative I had, came to live with me, to take care of me. I owe him a lot. But most of all, I owe him for this guy. My uncle brought me Joey." He kisses the pooch on the head. "Joey got me through a lot of bad times. Trying to mourn, recovering for a stretch, falling sick again and again after treatments. Joey was there when I'd be puking up the toxins, and Joey was there when I'd cry I couldn't take anymore. Joey sat on my bed with me and gave me all the love he could. I truly think that without him, I wouldn't have made it. He brought love back into my heart at the darkest time anyone can go through."

My head swirls with all the information. Churns with emotions I'm trying so hard to keep from him. Trying to stay unaffected and impartial like a good reporter should, but failing.

"He celebrated with me when I was declared in remission. And then he helped me finally mourn my parents properly. He stayed by my side when I was all alone after my uncle returned home. It was just him and me, and I owe my life to him." Edward sticks his head into Joey's fur, and I can see the slight shake of his shoulders, hear the faint sob muffled in Joey's neck. "How could I not be here for him now."

"Edward, I…" I want to say I'm sorry. I mourn for all your loss, I hate that you had to go through that. So many things I want to say, but my usually sharp reporter's tongue is twisted and empty.

He looks at me, eyes watery. "It's okay. I know. No one ever knows what to say, so I keep a lot to myself."

"And now… now you need everyone to know just how truly special Joey is."

He smiles a sad smile. "I think you found your angle."

I am not good enough for this assignment. For what seems like the hundredth time, I have no idea what Aro was thinking.

I'm sitting on the edge of the canopy bed, oddly aching for a sick boy I never knew. Mourning for the gutted man I barely know. Hurting for the dog that's pawing his way into my heart. I can feel the loss, the pain. It's palpable and I reflect back on all the interactions I've had with the two of them, seeing every scene differently now that I know.

Opening my laptop, I look over my notes and form a rough outline. I'm all at once angered and ashamed at the uncharacteristically lackluster, basic words in front of me.

Fuck Aro for putting this on me. Fuck him for pushing me in a way I do not bend. A way I don't like to bend.

But for whatever reason he sees me. Knows it's me that needs to write this article. Has high expectations as always and I'm letting him down. I'm letting myself down. I'm letting them down.

I crack my knuckles and start typing. Starting right this minute, I'm going to give Edward and Joey the article they deserve.

The story of a lifetime.

CarrieZM and LayAtHomeMom are another two loving doggie owners! Shout out to Juniper and Norman!

This is for Squiggy.