Chapter 1. The Heat That Wouldn’t Let Go
The heat that afternoon felt heavier than usual. It wasn’t just warm. It pressed down on the city like a weight, stealing breath with every step. Sidewalks shimmered.
Cars sat motionless, radiating heat like open ovens. Most people hurried past, eyes down, focused on getting somewhere cooler. That’s what everyone else did. Except him.
Chapter 2. The Chain
The elderly man stopped suddenly. At first, he wasn’t sure why. Then he saw it. A dog, chained to a metal post near the edge of a parking lot. No bowl. No shade.
No movement except the slow rise and fall of its chest. The chain was short. Too short. The dog tried to stand when it saw him, but its legs trembled. It lowered itself again, ears back, eyes tired but alert.
Something inside the man tightened.
Chapter 3. Kneeling Through the Pain
