Into The Wild: A Narrative Fiction

He repeated, “What if you become attached to them while you’re treating them?”
“What are you saying? How in the hell could anyone pick up an injured dog or a malnourished one, nurse it back to health and not become attached? My animals are my family and they are what makes me want to live. Without them, I would have no reason to live, I’m attached to every one of them. Several years ago, we found Old Spot on the side of the road, he was skin and bones. The owner abandoned him,” he said, pointing to a brown spotted dog lying in the corner. “I brought him home, gave him food and just look at him now, he’s been with me for years, but I’ll probably lose him soon,” Ernest said with a lump in his throat, Justin saw a tear fall on the old man’s shirt. “I know one damn thing for sure it won’t be because he died of thirst or starved to death.”
Oh, no, I take them to the pet cemetery and they take care of everything, but I haven’t had that many to die because of the loving care they get,” Ernest said.
“There’s fresh digging in your backyard,” Justin said. Last summer he and Kenny watched Ernest digging holes in the backyard. Recalling one afternoon, he heard Coach Alan and Coach Bill talking about one night about two o’clock they saw the old man digging holes in the backyard.
“I didn’t bury my friends,” Ernest said without elaborating any further.
Looking around the large, clean basement, surprised Justin.
“Will you do something?” Ernest