Page 82 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

3 am comes around too soon. Nathan peels himself off the bed. His naked body quivers with the shock of the cold room outside the cozy comforter. He rubs his arms and thighs to warm up and get his blood flowing.

Jamie is sleeping sound with one arm draped over snoring Mabel.

As quiet as possible he gathers a sweatshirt and joggers from the drawer and pulls them on. Slipping his feet into running shoes and then leaning down to wake Mabel. “Time to go for a walk, old girl.” He whispers. He’s missed their quiet morning strolls together since Jamie had taken over that duty.

She stretches and Jamie rolls away, mumbling something resembling words.

Mabel drags out from under the covers and follows Nathan to the door. He scoops up keys, his phone, and her leash, wrapping it around his wrist before they make their way down the stairs.

The street is silent and dark except the one porch light a few houses up. Mabel sniffs and squats on the little patch of grass next to the building’s stoop. Then the two start off down the sidewalk.

It's much colder as the days pass now. The air carries that sharp scent of winter he’d never experienced until last year, in the other Portland. Nathan can see his breath forming clouds when he exhales. There are fallen leaves scattering the ground. He feels happy to be spending time with Jamie and finally comfortable opening up to whatever potential there may be. Mabel loving the cutie makes the connection even more special, because she has never liked anyone but Nathan and random kids.

Mabel trots along, leaving paw prints in the thin coating of a snow dusting that fell earlier last evening. Darting side to side sniffing car tires and flower beds that have dried up and withered for the season. They have the neighborhood to themselves while everyone still sleeps.

The duo makes their way down the five blocks and round the bend toward the cemetery.

Mabel halts, staring ahead. Her whole-body tense and frozen on alert. She gurgles a low growl and before Nathan can grab her collar, she bolts.

He looks down the street for her target. An elderly woman is watching a chihuahua do its business on a front lawn.

“Mabel!” Nathan calls out in a whispered holler.

She pays no attention and continues down the street.

“Mabel!” He yells louder and starts after her.

She pauses at the center of an intersection, looking back. A light illuminates her side, casting a stretched bulldog shaped shadow across the pavement. Squealing tires echo through the street. The elderly woman looks up from her little dog.

The car appears from behind a row of shrubs lining the corner.

A thunderous thud cracks the stillness as the front bumper boars into Mabel, sending her body skidding up the street. The pained yelp that echoes through the neighborhood chills the blood in Nathan’s veins.

His breath catches in his throat. Every muscle in his body froze with terror. The world falls away. A surge of adrenaline pushes his body forward. Full sprint. His thick legs feel like they’re sinking into the pavement, turning to viscous sludge underfoot.

A young woman bursts from the halted coupe. She says something but Nathan’s ears are corked by the thunderous beats of his own heart. Trying to burst through his chest.

Headlights focus on Mabel, laid on her side. Still, except for her heaving chest. Blood is soaking her snow-white fur, spreading across her neck and down her belly.

Nathan drops to his knees. Hands hovering over her broken body. Panic consuming his being.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry.” The driver cries.

Nathan doesn’t acknowledge her. He scoops Mabel into his arms and buries his face in her blood-soaked neck. “You hang on girl!” His eyes flood and he turns back toward their apartment. Launching into a trudging sprint.

He hugs her body tight to his chest, trying to keep her still while he bounds down the five blocks toward his Jeep parked at the back of their building. She’s heavy but the rush in his veins doesn’t register it. It feels too long before he reaches the Jeep.

He sits her on the passenger's seat and nearly trips, rounding the front to reach the driver’s. Thankfully he grabbed his keys and phone, pulling them from his pocket. He fires up the old SUV and searches for the nearest emergency vet on the phone’s browser.

Pressing the gas pedal, the jeep backs out of the parking spot, down the drive and onto the street. He taps to dial the vet office and let them know he’s coming. He shifts into drive and stomps forward.

“We’ll be ready for you!” A man’s voice responds to Nathan’s rapid-fire announcement.

Nathan keeps one hand on Mabel. “You stay with me girl! You’re going to be okay!” Her body is still heaving with labored breaths under his palm. She whimpers and he breaks. Nathan can barely see through swimmy eyes, but nothing is going to stop him from saving his best friend.

The vet’s office is only 5 minutes away but the drive feels like an eternity.

A man and a woman wearing scrubs are waiting in front of the building with a stainless-steel cart at the ready.

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