Pulling over onto gravel, she scanned through her music for something to help ease the tension coursing through her. Spotting Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song,” she pressed Play and turned up the volume, singing along in hopes of finding some release. After a few stanzas, Morgan joined in, letting out a series of barks that rolled into a bay, and more than anything, this is what cooled her anger. By the time the song was over, she was laughing at her dog’s excitement.

“Is my voice that bad? Wait, don’t answer.”

Before even contemplating it, she turned down the dirt road where she and Gabe had found Morgan, and her blood began to heat all over again. It felt like much longer than a month ago that she and Gabe had driven down this road together. And it looked it too. Back then, most of the world had still been the dull brown of winter with sporadic hints of yellow-green. Now, the trees and grasses were the bright, healthy green of full spring, the corn, soy, and cotton fields were bustling with new growth, and the river had receded after the deluge of spring rains had ended. The evening sky was a brilliant hue of bright blue, and the heat and humidity that were sure to come were holding off awhile longer.

“You know where we’re going, don’t you, Morgs?”

He was sniffing the air with such exuberance, she cracked the windows, letting in the wind.

She wasn’t sure what was drawing her down this road, or even if it was in his best interest, but she couldn’t turn back. She needed to see the house. Morgan’s house. And for some reason, she was strangely certain he needed to see it too.

“Do dogs need closure?” Her heart leaped into her throat as she spotted the house ahead and slowed to a snail’s pace to finish their approach. She’d forgotten what terrible shape the home had been in. Peeling paint. Broken shutters and a broken window. Seedlings growing out of the gutter. Dark, gritty stains running down the roof. Discarded furniture and trash strewn about the front porch.

She pulled into the empty driveway and shut off the ignition. “We don’t have to get out if you don’t want to.”

Morgan stuck his head out the half-rolled-down window and woofed at the house.

“Is that a yes?”

She got out and opened the back-passenger door. When he hopped out without hesitation, she grabbed his leash and decided to let him lead her wherever he wanted to go.