until a gentle nudge pulled him from his reverie. It was Rex, the retired K9 dog, with a soft, knowing look in his eyes. Rex was a veteran of many conflicts, a silent guardian who had long since traded the battlefield for the peace of the countryside. Yet, even in his retirement, his instincts remained sharp, and his heart unyielding in its pursuit of justice.
The dog nudged Isaac again, this time licking his cheek with a tenderness that felt foreign yet comforting. At that moment, Isaac sensed a connection, an understanding that transcended words. Rex, with his grizzled fur and soulful eyes, had seen his share of human cruelty, and he seemed to recognize it in the boy’s haunted gaze.
