2 A.M.

A glowing white wolf pads up to me, lighting up golden shards of grass as it approaches. It pauses then sits in front of me and looks up into me.

Its eyes are black but alive. They search but don't ask. They're trying to understand my decisions but not prodding.

I reach down and pet its head gently. It's soft and warm. It wants to comfort me. I look back to it and say hello. It answers with an upward twitch of its tail.