Me or the Dog,’ She Said. His Answer Was Brutal— and Perfect (3 of 3)

So she left. Max stayed.

That night, as I sat on the floor eating takeout, Max rested his head on my lap, his tail thumping softly against the carpet. I scratched behind his ears and whispered, “It’s just us now, buddy.” And for the first time in months, the house felt like home again.