In her backyard, Susan played fetch with and chased her dog, Gracie.


    Exhausted, Susan laid on the lawn. Gracie licked her face.


    She giggled, giving Gracie a belly rub.


    ————


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Susan’s kitten, Roger, meowed, purred, rolled, and pounced on a toy catnip-filled mouse that she tugged around on a string.


    ————


    Sprout, Susan’s parrot, sat on her shoulder and sang as she taught him a new tune.


    ————


    An alarm rang and shut down the neural sequencer.


    Susan woke up, wiped tears from her eyes, and clicked her headset.


    “Repeat playlist ‘Lost Loves’—for fifteen minutes.”


    She sighed, closed her eyes, and smiled.