Sienna hesitated, her eyes drifting to Toby.
In my head, Toby was shouting again.
"She's right! The Border Collie on the kibble bag is so scary. I was too terrified to eat, and I couldn't sleep either, so of course I got skinny. Mommy, you have to listen to this lady!"
Seeing that I stayed quiet, Wyatt sneered.
"If you're saying he's scared of a photo, then how do you explain him refusing to eat once he got to the animal hospital? Our kibble doesn't have any Border Collie on it."
The fans in the live stream started piling on.
"Right, he wouldn't eat here either."
"Obviously the dog's just depressed."
"Stop stirring up trouble, intern. Let Toby go in peace."
I clenched my teeth.
Toby's voice rose again in my mind, full of hurt.
"Is this guy sick or something? I wouldn't eat at the animal hospital because their kibble bag has a different dog printed on it too. It's not as scary as the Border Collie, but it still freaks me out!"
My head snapped toward the big kibble bag propped in the corner.
Sure enough, there was a Corgi printed on it.
Round and plump, grinning ear to ear.
I'd never imagined Toby could be such a coward.
Sienna was crying too hard to speak now, and clearly she didn't believe me.
Wyatt reached out to take Toby, his voice gentle.
"Toby's mom, don't be too upset. I'll arrange the euthanasia now, so Toby suffers as little as possible."
When Toby was lifted up, his eyes could barely stay open.
His voice suddenly went very small, very weak.
"Save me, lady... My mommy bought me a gold collar, it's so pretty. If you save me, I'll give it to you."
I balled my hands into fists.
"Wait!"
Everyone turned to look at me.
I walked over and blocked Wyatt.
"Whether Toby's starving himself because of the dog photo on the kibble bag, all we have to do is test it, right? Five minutes won't make a difference. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility!"
Wyatt's face darkened.
"Faith, you're an intern. What makes you think I should listen to you? I've practiced for twenty years and saved more animals than I can count. How many days have you even been here?"
Sienna wiped her tears and tugged at me.
"Sweetheart, I know you mean well, but I really... I can't bear to watch Toby suffer anymore. I trust Dr. Dickerson."
The live chat agreed in one voice.
"Quit the act, intern. I think she just wants to ride the hype and grab that million."
"Hurry up and give Toby back to Dr. Dickerson."
"Exactly, dragging it out only makes Toby suffer more."
Toby gave a faint twitch in Wyatt's arms, his breathing growing weaker.
That voice came again, choked with sobs.
"Lady... please... I'm only two... I don't want to die..."
My eyes stung.
Looking into his eyes, I suddenly remembered the mutt I'd kept as a kid.
He'd looked at me just like this, right before a neighbor poisoned him to death.
I gritted my teeth, stepped forward, and snatched Toby right out of Wyatt's arms.
The whole room erupted.
Wyatt's face went green.
"What are you doing?! Cause any more trouble and I'm calling the police!"
"Just five minutes." I held Toby tight, my palms slick with sweat.
"If five minutes proves nothing, I'll give him right back to you! But if it does, that's a life on the line!"
Wyatt let out a cold laugh.
"Fine. And if you fail," he pointed at the jade bracelet on my wrist,
"this bracelet is mine."
My chest ached.
It was the keepsake my mother left me.
Wyatt's wife had taken a liking to it when she came by the hospital, offering to buy it, and I'd refused no matter what.
I'd had no idea he'd been eyeing it all along.
"This bracelet means a lot to me..."
