He thought he was stopping for a stray dog in the snow-until he saw what she was hiding beneath her body

her ears. The scars did not disappear, but they stopped being the only thing visible.

When it was over, Scout let him wrap her in a towel and rub her dry.

“You’re lighter than you looked,” he said.

She sneezed water onto his shirt.

For the first time in longer than he could remember, Cal laughed.