If they put it off another week, I’m going to know it’s happening, and the next week is going to go by so slowly. The dread and anticipation will bubble up inside of me, growing with each passing day. No. That can’t happen.
“Are you sure?” he asks.
I nod and plaster a reassuring smile on my face. “I really am okay. But maybe don’t lock the kennel door?”
Daddy sighs but ultimately nods. “Okay, I won’t lock it. There is also a camera in the living room that I will check when I get to the office. I’ll check it a couple of times while I am out to make sure you are okay. If I see anything, I will have Yamal come and check on you, or I will come myself.”
“You won’t need to do that. I’ll be perfectly fine here by myself,” I tell him.
But I’m trying to reassure myself. I can already feel my heart rate starting to pick up as Daddy places me on the ground and stands.
“Daddy is going to allow you to roam around the apartment freely while I am gone. When I get home, I will be checking the video surveillance to make sure you didn’t do anything naughty. If I find out that you did, there will be no more free roaming while I am gone.” Daddy looks down at me. “Do you understand?”
“I understand, Daddy.” I smile at him.
I have no intention of doing something naughty like that. Unless it gets Daddy to come sooner if he catches me whenever he looks at the camera feed.Hmmm. Maybe I should do something like that, but then I would have to constantly do it since I don’t know when Daddy will look at the camera.
How exhausting will it be to try to stand on my own and do other things Daddy wouldn’t approve of? I don’t know how longhe is going to be away, but I know it is going to be longer than an hour. And I don’t have that kind of energy in me.
“I can see the mischievous look in your eyes.” Daddy taps my nose and shakes his head. “Don’t you dare think about doing something to get me to come home earlier. Daddy won’t be happy if I have to leave early and go back another day because you are naughty.”
“What if I get hurt somehow?” I ask. “Will you be mad at me then?”
What if it’s an honest mistake and I find myself passing out? What then? I don’t want Daddy to be mad at me for having to leave early.
Daddy squats in front of me and gently cups my face. “If you aren’t being naughty and somehow find yourself hurt, Daddy won’t be mad at you. I know you aren’t going to intentionally hurt yourself to get me to come home.”
Nodding, I lean into his hand and close my eyes.
“Such a good girl,” he purrs. “Daddy is going to go now. If you need anything, just yell, and my phone will alert me that you made a loud noise. Or I may see if when I am checking on you. If you do it, though, be prepared to hear someone asking what you need.”
“Are they always monitoring the camera?” I whisper, my eyes going wide as I look around the room.
Where are the cameras and speakers? I’ve never noticed anything before. How have I managed to miss something important like that?
“Why didn’t they say something when the fire alarm went off?” I ask.
They should have sent someone to come and get me out of the kennel in case there was a real fire. They should have tried to let me know I wasn’t going to die.
“I didn’t have it in place back then. Last time we went to the office together, I had them install the cameras and speakers. If anything happens while I am gone in the future, someone will be able to talk to you, or I will be able to talk to you,” Daddy explains. “I don’t want something like that to happen again.”
“I don’t, either,” I mumble.
Daddy kisses the top of my head before giving my lips a gentle peck. “I know you don’t. That is why I took extra precautions after it happened. Nothing bad is going to happen to you ever again.”
I hope he’s telling the truth.
“Now, Daddy has to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. Remember what I said about calling out if you need anything,” Daddy reminds me. “Be a good girl for me.”
I hold my breath as Daddy grabs his bag and walks to the front door. He turns his head and gives me a slight wave before heading out, my heart sinking as he leaves.
I crawl over to the kennel and grab the blanket out from it, placing it around me as I lie down, trying to stay warm. Maybe I can take a little nap here while Daddy is gone. Closing my eyes, I will my body to relax.
***How am I going to survive in the apartment when everything brings me back to how I was feeling in the cage alone, thinking I was going to die?
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to calm myself down.
“I can do this,” I whisper to myself. “I can be strong for Daddy and make it through the day. Nothing bad is going to happen to me.”
