Leo’s chest, which had been heaving with shallow, labored breaths, now rose and fell in a rhythm that was unnervingly steady. The room, thick with grief and anticipation, seemed to hold its breath along with them. The veterinarian, her hands still poised, froze mid-motion, eyes wide as she scanned Leo’s body, searching for some logical explanation, some sign that this was real.
Silence filled the clinic, broken only by the soft hum of the overhead lights. The assistant leaned in, disbelief etched…
