What Separates Me and You

Pausing in his steps, Damian looked back at Quintin.

A few seconds later, he replied firmly, “It’s a pity that you’re my son in this lifetime. You don’t

have a choice.”

After saying that, he and his men left in the cars parked outside.

Quintin kept his head down. He stared at the ground and remained silent for a long time.

Josephine grabbed his arm, looking at him with concern. After a while, Quintin slowly raised his head to look at Josephine. In the dim light, his face looked exceptionally pale. In just that few minutes, he seemed to have lost some of his vitality, instantly appearing haggard and

exhausted.

Hurt flashed across his eyes, along with a hint of helplessness. He stared at Josephine and opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn’t utter a single word. In response, Josephine tightened her grip on his arm, trying to comfort him.

Quintin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then broke free from Josephine’s grasp said, “I’m fine.”

and

His voice sounded hoarse and nasally as if he was choking back tears. He walked toward the cages. However, as he approached them, his steps faltered. He didn’t have the nerve to get.

closer.

Josephine stayed by his side, gathering her courage and approaching the cages. As she got closer, she saw all the dogs lying haphazardly inside the cages. They looked as if they were sleeping. Josephine reached out a finger and gently poked the head of a Golden Retriever, but it was cold, and no response came from the dog.

Her gaze flickered. The last time she had been this close to death was when Alan passed away. When Alan passed on, he looked as if he was peacefully sleeping. He didn’t look much different. from when he used to bask in the sun in the yard.

The only difference was that after closing his eyes that time, he never opened them again.

things, and especially that familiar rocking chair, her heart felt empty. The feeling of melancholy and loss would

and what it entailed. She knew what it meant to those who were still alive. Whether they were humans or animals, as long as they had been alive, one would develop emotions toward them after interacting with those lives for some time. In Quintin’s case, he had taken care of the dogs over an

lifted his hand and opened the cage. He

on the cages instantly, revealing the horrifying state inside.

out and touched the Husky before him.

somewhat

tear rolled down his cheek, and he choked as he said, “This is the 29th animal I’ve adopted. I even boasted about filling this facility with animals. I wanted to be able to count from one to one thousand. That would have been quite grand, wouldn’t

the end, they would die because of me. They must have felt utter despair just now, waiting for me to save them. Why didn’t I come back sooner? If only I’d been faster, they wouldn’t

almost kneeling on the ground. Josephine stood silently beside him, feeling equally distraught at what had transpired. She hesitated, extended her hand, and placed it on his back. Then, she gently patted his back as if to comfort

utter helplessness he felt. She could tell that he

my father. Why would he treat me

to console him, so

to hold it in any longer, he turned toward Josephine and embraced her tightly.

of what to do.

on her shoulder and held her tightly. He whispered,

soon.”

emanated. He smelled of

few minutes before letting go.

returning to normal. He looked

cages once more.

asked, “Can you help

and

the shed and soon came out with a shovel. He held It In his hands

few steps before coming to a halt, seemingly lost in

threw the shovel on the ground unceremoniously. The shovel made a harsh sound upon