The dog nudged Isaac again, this time licking his cheek with a tenderness that felt foreign yet comforting. At that moment, Isaac sensed a connection, an understanding that transcended words. Rex, with his grizzled fur and soulful eyes, had seen his share of human cruelty, and he seemed to recognize it in the boy’s haunted gaze.

As the moon climbed higher, bathing the stable in a silvery glow, Rex padded silently to the stable door, glancing back at Isaac. The message was clear: follow me. With trepidation, Isaac rose from the straw, his small feet moving almost automatically behind the dog. Together, they slipped into the cool embrace of the night, leaving behind the oppressive walls of the stable.