She’s listening intently, staring right into my eyes.
“I looked around me but didn’t see anything. Then, as the sound got closer, it was more of a yipping noise.”
This is where most people start to raise a brow at the story. But Alison doesn’t. Not yet.
“I looked up and saw something falling.”
“From the sky?” she asks softly.
“From the sky.” I nod. “I reached out and had to lunge to catch her.”
“Did she jump from a balcony or something?”
I shake my head. “No balconies in sight. She could have fallen out of a window or something, but even after I put signs up and informed both building managers about the dog, no one ever claimed her.”
“Wow.” She chuckles softly. “That’s amazing.”
“It is.”
“Sky is the perfect name for her.”
“She’s the perfect dog.”
Alison reaches out and touches my hand. I’d love to tell you I felt nothing, but I can’t. “She’s going to be okay. I just know it.”
I look down at her hand on top of mine and place mine on top of hers. “Thanks for being here.” And I mean it.
She gives me a small smile, but it seems genuine. “You’re welcome.”
* * *
“The good newsis she’s got no internal bleeding. I was concerned she’d have pneumothorax—”
“What’s that?” Alison asks before I can.
“Punctured lung.”
“She doesn’t have that?”
“No. But what she does appear to have is swelling in her spine. Good news, the spine doesn’t show signs of a fracture.”
I nod.
“Meaning what?” Alison takes over. I’m thankful since I’m unable to put two thoughts together. She seems to be a good person to have around right now.
“My guess is she’s got a ruptured intervertebral disc. It’s also why she’s not able to move.”
She looks first at the doc, then at me, her voice shocked when she says, “She can’t move?”
I knew she wasn’t moving, but I just figured she was in shock or she had a broken leg. “Her spine?” My voice is much higher than normal. I can’t control it.
“The rupture can cause spinal inflammation and paralysis. She’ll need emergency surgery.”
“Surgery?” I squeak. “When?”
“Now.”
“Can you do that here?”
