Tommy had warned me that he would have attacks occasionally and assured me that they would be mild. And they were. One day, though, an attack just kept going, and Prince, seated on his hind legs, kept very still, his mouth open, his eyes squinting as he gasped for air. Prince, as the episode turned out, was fine, but I think it was that hurried walk that finally closed the distance between us. It was summer.
Summer means shedding.
Nervousness means more shedding. I held Prince close. Another time hepatitis A hit me hard enough to keep me home for a month. After the initial flulike symptoms passed, all I had to do was rest in bed until my bloodwork came back to the doctor's liking. There were books to read, TV shows to watch.