She kept glancing back, waiting for Max’s silhouette to emerge from the darkness. Each time she looked, the space behind her remained empty, swallowing hope. The dog tugged her forward, urging her onward. Yet the absence of Max’s footsteps haunted her with every breath she forced into her aching lungs.
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered Max’s last words: “If anything happens, follow the dog.” It hadn’t felt like a goodbye then, but now it echoed like one. She realized Max had prepared her for escape, sacrificing his own safety so she might reach someone who could help.