The cellar is cold. The floor is dirt, packed, but a small soft layer of dark soil above gives it a feel like damp sand. It can be thankful that the cage’s wires aren’t also threaded on the floor- just welded and connected to cement walls, rusty but set in the rock. A mattress sits in a corner, a few plastic bottles of water here and there- all their caps gone. Issy always took the caps right after opening them, mumbling about not trusting It with that, too risky. It loves Issy, because Issy is so considerate to even care as much as to think about It’s safety like that. Though the dog doesn’t know how to express that, to speak it, so It just smiles and nods- rubbing It’s head into his warm calloused palm.
The Dog has gotten lost in thought again, It’s wondering if It woke up early this time, Issy isn’t there. It finds It’s hard to keep focus when Issy is gone. It doesn’t like that, It makes minutes feel like days and days into minutes, It doesn’t know exactly how to exist when Issy isn’t there playing with It.
A shift, a metallic scrape comes from the cellar’s storm doors. It launches It’s head up instantly to them, feeling the leather collar grind into the rope burned neck. It’s stomach twists, and that is joy it feels- it’s so happy it could throw up, shaking with anticipation where it sits, as Issy approaches the door. His key’s clack and shriek against the cold metal, the door swings open. The dog does not dare get up without being told to.
Issy’s warm hands thread into the Dog’s dirty hair, it’s head leans into his leg.
This is the life of a dog, this is as simple as it will ever get.