Burnt (book1)

Empathy

"DAVINCI" Evan called as he walked over to fill the food bowl up with dinner. Vinny immediately ran towards the food shoving his little face deep into the bowl. Evan laughed as he dialed in the number.

"Hi I would like to make an appointment" Evan said once the receptionist answered for the vet clinic.

"Have you been with us before?"

"No"

"Alright, then I'm going to need some information now and we can get the rest when you come in. Sound good?"

"Yeah. That's fine but, my dog had a seizure I think it was a seizure at least and would like to get him in soon like, tomorrow if possible."

"Yes we have some openings for tomorrow morning." Her chipper voice broke through the tenseness of Evan's apartment.

"Great what time? Wait with which doctor? I read about Dr. Connor on reviews and I would like the best for my dog."

"Miss Connor is an assistant but clients like her very much. She is working with Dr. Stein tomorrow and they have an 11 o'clock available."

"Yes that's great" Evan said as he looked down to Vinny, sill devouring his food. Evan gave the lady his information and Vinny's and that was that.

"See you both tomorrow then, have a lovely night."

"Thanks you too" Evan said hanging up the phone "looks like you are going to see the doctor tomorrow." DaVinci just continued to wag his tail. As Evan put down his phone he thought back to Scarlett. It had been over 2 weeks and he hadn't texted her or called, he had hoped that she forgot about him even though he was having a hard time forgetting about her. He opened up a new message and added her number as he watched Vinny continue to eat. What would he even say? She wouldn't want him once she saw what he was. It was better he thought, it would be better if they just forgot about each other. Vinny finished eating and ran to get his ball, squeaking it when he found it and brought it Evan to throw.

Evan despised leaving his home but for DaVinci, his little man, he left the house daily. Once to twice for a walk, usually bright and early before others were even awake or late at night when everyone was already asleep, also few times to the roof top garden that had a patch of grass and some trees for the dogs in the complex, usually he could make it up there without difficultly. They went to the dog park once but Evan scared some of the dogs and almost lost a finger so, Evan avoided other dogs as well. The vet though. DaVinci had never gotten sick. He was healthy and got his vaccines back in Ohio. The vet, Evan thought again as he moved to wash his hands seeing his reflection in the shiny refrigerator. "For DaVinci" Evan said quietly as he tried to wash away todays stress and pain.

*************

The small vet clinic was right next door to a bakery and a pet supplies store. Treats for humans and treats for animals Evan thought as he pulled his hood further on his head. Evan rode his bike there, the ride was quick and Vinny loved sitting in the basket Evan strapped to his bike for Vinny to sit in. As Evan locked his bike in place in front of the small building, he heard barking dogs and Vinny joined in on the commotion.

There was one older woman with a scrappy cat in a green based tan toped cat carrier and a little girl sitting next to her playing on her phone. There was a large bull mastiff with a pink collar and hot pink flowery leash, her owner was a large man with a go-tee and a thick leather jacket. On the biker man's lap was a tiny Chihuahua in a matching jacket barking and barking obsessively while the mastiff sat drooling and dazed. Evan stood transfixed for a moment before the bell dinged again and he saw another client coming in behind him. He moved to the front counter keeping his head down to DaVinci who he held in his arms.