It was great. Freedom even the imagined kind always is.

“So close, I thought. A shorter fence, a fatter dog, and everything would be dif…”

“He handed me a bandana. "Tie that on.""Why?" I said, but I did it anyway. "Norm…”

“I understood now. This voice, the one that had been trying to get my attention …”

“You didn't fail. You just opted out. There's a difference.”