Hope

Chapter One

The small beagle's paws scrap at the metal kennel floor. I had just finished giving him his treatment for his bad case of worms. Poor guy. He had whimpered in his cage half the night. My eyes feel heavy at the thought of it. I had worked the night shift at the clinic, therefore I've been trying my best to stay on top of things now. I glance at my study books scattered along the desk. Again, it feels like my legs would collapse because of the lack of sleep, but I quickly pull it together, reminding myself that I still had much to do in the clinic.

Brian Adams, the owner and doctor of the clinic, walks in the back door where I stood next to the many dogs and cats. "Hey, Grace," He waves slightly before rummaging through the papers on the desk. "How was night shift."

With a yawn, I answer, "Fine. Everything went well."

"Good. Oh, Ms. Reed will be here to pick up her British shorthair kitten, Lucy, today."

"OK. I'll make sure she's ready." I add another thing to my mental list to get done.

"Great."

I continue my work. Moving swiftly, I clean out the cages and give the rest of the animals in the back room their medicines. Then I enter the smaller room placed right next to the place with the desk and kennels. In here, larger dogs or other animals are in pens instead of the cages used for the tinier pets. I give each their breakfast, though most of them ignore the bowl of food and water. I sigh. I love working here and can't wait till I become a vet, but it's really hard to see the animals suffer. But, I always try to stay positive and tell myself that I'm here to help each and every one of them get better.

"Hey, Bingo," I whisper to the big dalmatian who sat sadly in the back of the pen. He hasn't been eating, so his owner sent him to us to try and figure out why. "I put some extra treats in your breakfast... Want any?" He only looks at me with his big sad eyes. I smile slightly back, but then sigh as he lays his head back on the blanket I brought in for him last night.

Soon I'm walking into the equine part of the clinic. It's fairly small since this town doesn't have too many horses. Just three stalls and one big surgery room which I only think Brian has used once or twice. Anyway, I check on the big bay dun who injured his leg jumping. Luckily, it wasn't a break, so he didn't need surgery and he should be fine after it heals.

Eventually, I finish up everything that needs to be done and head back to the main room with the desk and kennels. Brian is in the large surgery room with the door shut and curtains over the small windows of the door, which meant he was probably doing an operation on an animal. Since it is a Saturday, I don't have to go to my university, which, trust me, I'm happy about. I'm about to collapse in the chair to rest for a second when I hear Lucy's super tiny, sweet meow. I smile at the sound. I'll be sad to see the tiny kitten go. She's been so fun to take care of. Her light gray fur was the softest I've ever felt and her eyes make you melt into your seat. You know how people saw the eyes are the windows to the soul? Well, I know it's true for sweet little Lucy.

I quickly pull Lucy out of her cage and she immediately snuggles into my chest. She meows in complaint when I sent her down on the desk so I can pull open a drawer. A soft brush sits there, some hairs still wrapped around it from the last time I used it for a tiny kitten. By scooping her up, I receive a little purr of delight. The next ten minutes go back fast. I brush her hair so it's perfectly groomed for her owner and put a little pink bow on the top of her head. I laugh at her adorableness, then hear someone open the front door.

"Hey, Lucy, I think that's your Mom..." I snuggle her in and start walking towards the front of the store. "Hello? Is that you, Ms. Reed?"

I turn the corner, expecting to see the middle-aged woman with grayish-blonde hair standing there, waiting to see her now-healthy cat, but no. It isn't her. I stare in shock at the human standing in front of me. Probably the last person I ever wanted to see here at the clinic.

Cole.