After the mine, I started getting sick. More sick than I normally am. Sick like you got towards the end… I wish you were here Nana.

My bike rides to work got harder. My hair started falling out. Keeping down food got hard.

Then, I jumped into a wolf. I was careless in the enclosure, off guard, even more than usual. One of them snuck up on me, probably just playing, but he gave me a fright and I squealed. I put my hands out between us and scrambled, and as I did, I felt something. I left my body, and I became the wolf.

After that, I started making plans.

I installed a doggy door in the out building, bought a few animal harnesses made of Kevlar, and bought some stuff for service animals. Bought a bunch of fake service animal certificates online, got the patches, collars, and tags.

Bought animal food in bulk too, which was pretty easy, working for a zoo and all.

I tied rags to all the handles in my living space, put everything low to the ground and in easy reach. Paid up for rent a few months in advance, and told my boss I was taking an extended vacation.

Then, I went out into the woods. I brought a shovel and some plastic sheets with me. A bush too. Took me all day to dig the whole. It was exhausting. My new friend made it a little less boring though.

I took the whole bottle of painkillers I got from that guy in the mine, then took some tranquilizers I swiped from work. Rhino tranquilizers.

When I sealed the bag from inside, it felt like you were tucking me in, wrapped up tight on your couch like I was a kid again. Then I hopped into my new friend.

I buried my twitching body, and walked back home in the dark as it died.