He reached the lower branches, boots scraping bark. Coco peeked out, eyes wide and nose twitching. “Just a bit more,” David muttered. Lisa could barely hear over the thundering in her chest. Her eyes locked on his boots, silently urging them to touch the ground.
Finally, his feet hit earth. Lisa ran forward. He gently handed her the trembling puppy. Lisa collapsed to her knees, holding Coco against her chest. Coco licked her face, whining softly, curling into Lisa’s arms like a long-lost child. Lisa sobbed into her fur, unable to speak.