The larger mutt snapped at me first; teeth bear with inflammation along her gumline. Even as a pup she did not growl. When I first brought her home, there were only kisses and cuddles to exchange. Quite the follower, her sibling came along, molding her behavior after her predecessor.

My paralyzed form lay slumped sideways in my favorite armchair. I mustered enough strength to blink and ease the pain of gritty dryness, but as my eyelids closed, the urge to set my sights on the lucky pair of mutts consumed me.

Lucky to snap and bark with no repercussions. Lucky to circle me with vicious intent, brushing my limp arm with muscular furry bodies as it dangled pathetically over the side of the chair.

A blast of warm drool and strings of phlegm hit the exposed parts of my legs. Her warm moist breath caused my heartbeat to triple as I expected those sharp canine teeth to sink into my flesh.

Any minute now.

I willed my mouth to form words, and when it refused to produce sound, my thoughts flowed instead.

I always despised dogs. It wasn't until my ex encouraged me to try raising a pair that I realized it was because of fear more than animosity. Some family we were. Shortly after bringing them home, I made the tough decision to leave my ex with that burden.

Maybe my mistake was returning when they were adults. They recognize me, but I'm not sure I recognize them.

Would they have matured differently if I had stayed, built that bond, and took care of my responsibility? Would I still be in this—

A twisted pain in my hollow stomach distracts me. For days, the only fluids moving through my system are the contents of the empty syringe at my feet. Did it contribute to more than my spineless state?

My breath caught as a searing pain tore through me, beginning at my calf. The mutt's teeth had finally pierced the flesh and yanked the meat, tugging my bottom half over the edge of my seat.

I teetered, motionless. Not even a tear moved from my dehydrated ducts.

Throbbing heat surrounded the torn flesh of my leg and my fearful gaze landed on the shreds of meat hanging from her clenched muzzle.

Her sibling yelped in unexpected retribution and clamped her jaws around the mutt's throat. Kicking and tumbling on the creaky wooden floorboards, the struggle continued for several minutes until big sister fell limp. With fear and astonishment in her eyes, the remaining mongrel blindly retreated backwards, lost balance, and plummeted down two flights of stairs to the landing below.

The brutal thud shook the quiet house, yet an agonizing whimper reverberated throughout the empty halls.

My fingers twitched, and my leg shook to the sound that threatened to lull me to sleep.

Some family we were.