Rover

"Patrick."

He looked around when he heard his name.

"Over here."

Patrick squinted, looking out into the dusk from the porch.

"Douglas?" Patrick could just make out a shape standing at the edge of the clearing.

"Hey, baby," the shape said.

"Why don't you come closer?"

"I can't, Patrick. I'm here now."

"I don't understand."

"Remember, baby? Remember the accident?" Douglas asked.

"What are you talking about? Why did you leave me?"

"Oh, baby. I didn't want to."

Patrick was confused. Why was Douglas was behaving this way?

"Listen, sweetheart," Douglas said. "I need you to do something important for me."

"What is it? Come up to the porch so we can talk."

"Patrick. I need for you to move on now. I need for you to be happy."

"What are you saying, Douglas? Don't you want to be with me anymore? Did you stop loving me?"

"Of course I love you. I always will," Douglas said. "But listen to me, baby. You've got to move on now. I want you to be happy again. You need to find someone else to love."

"But I want you," Patrick said.

Douglas didn't say anything more. He turned and walked into the woods. Then he was gone.

Patrick woke with a start, tangled in his blankets. He wasn't at their vacation cabin. He was in his apartment in Austin. Jack, his golden retriever, was lying on the bed next to him.

A dream, he thought. Douglas wasn't here. He was gone. Killed by a drunk driver over a year ago.

Patrick couldn't sleep now. He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Jack lifted his head and looked at him. When Patrick went to the kitchen instead of coming back to bed, he heard Jack get up and follow him down the hall.

Patrick got a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, then went to his office and turned on the computer. When Patrick sat down, Jack walked over and laid his head on Patrick's knee. Patrick absently scratched the dog's ears and stared at the screen as the computer booted.

"Oh, Jack. What am I going to do?"