(Leo's POV)

Two days.

It's been two whole days and already, I've gone completely insane with worry. All these questions are running round and round in my head. Where is she? Is she hurt? Did she make it back to her family ok? Are those injuries, that seemed perfectly fine two days ago, bothering her?

Does she miss me?

Does she miss me? Where the hell did that come from?

I groan at myself in frustration and pull a pillow over my head. What the hell is wrong with me lately? I'm like a lovesick puppy.

"Leo," I say to myself, as I climb out of bed. "She's a wolf. She's fine. She is most definitely not thinking about you. Grow up, man."

After giving myself my little pep talk, I make my way downstairs to the kitchen, clad only in my pajama bottoms. I switch on the coffee machine, yawning as I do.

Why am I so tired? Oh, yeah, because I was awake for half the night, worrying about a freaking wolf!

I pop some bread in the toaster and sit patiently at the breakfast bar, waiting for my breakfast to present itself. The house is silent; too silent. It's been like this for the last few months; since the day Sandy left.

Twenty minutes later, I'm walking across the yard from my house, to the surgery. The cold October wind sent chills along the back of my neck. I really should have wrapped up more. I fumble with the keys in the lock as Sarah pulls into the driveway.

"Morning," she calls.

"Morning. It's a cold one this morning, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I think we may start lighting the fires soon," she replies.

Sarah loves open fires. She constantly tells me the fire in the surgery is by far her favorite. I guess I can see where she comes from.

Apart from the fact that it's a bit bigger in size, the surgery is an exact replica of a wood cabin that you'd find up a mountain in the middle of nowhere. With its warm wooden floors and similar walls, the surgery, unlike most veterinary clinics around, offers a homier feel. When the fire beside the reception desk is lit, it throws out the most comforting heat into the room.

"Give it a week or two before you decide to light it," I chuckle.

We make our way into the cluttered reception. Papers are strewn all across the desk; empty mugs are left beside the once visible computer keyboard. The windowsills are cluttered with unpaid bills, broken pens, dog toys and several long cat hairs. Each step on the stairs leading to the upstairs store is occupied by either a bag of animal food, be it dog food, cat food or even rabbit food, or a box filled with some type of medication for one of the many species of animal treated in the clinic.

"Well," Sarah sighs, placing down her bag and looking around the chaos that once was the clean reception area. "I think we both know what's on my to-do list for the morning. I dread to think what the other rooms are like."

"Don't worry, I'll help you. The first appointment is at half eleven, so that means I have," I pause to look at my watch. "Just under two and a half hours to help."

"Well then, let's get started. I'll make a start on all this paperwork," she says, indicating towards the mountain of paper that was pretty much taking over most of the room.

"Okay, I'll try to sort out the store room," I say, making my way towards the stairs to tackle the mess that is there.

Once I have the stairs cleared, I can evaluate the condition of the storeroom.

It's a mess. There is no simpler way of putting it.

There are countless boxes covered with dust, shelves full of medicine and treatments along with all the food and medicine I just brought up from the stairs. This will take me all day to clean.

I grab a cloth and begin dusting down the shelves and making room for the new stock.  Then I organize the feed, by species, making it easier to find. I glance at my watch again. It's eighteen minutes past eleven. Twelve minutes before my first appointment arrives.

I bend down and pick up one of the boxes to establish what exactly is in them. The box bursts, just as I'm about to place it on the table, its contents spilling over the now clean floor.

"Ugh," I complain.

I crouch down and begin picking up the items that have fallen and place them on the table. I stop when I come across a picture. It's a picture of Sandy. My heart aches at the thought of her. God, I miss her. Of course I miss her. Three years is a long time to just forget.

"Leo," Sarah calls, breaking my trance-like state.

"Yeah," I reply, trying desperately to hide the sadness in my voice.

"Mr. Murphy is here with Munchkin," she informs me.

"Okay, no problem. I'll be with him in one minute."

I hear Sarah chatting animatedly to Mr. Murphy as she walks him into the waiting room. I hurry down the stairs and quickly place the picture of Sandy into my coat pocket on the coat stand in the corner.

I take a deep breath and compose myself, before pushing the door open into the waiting room where Mr. Murphy is sitting. His huge Alsatian, Munchkin, is cowering underneath the bench, as if he's successfully hiding himself from the world. No matter how many times the dog has been here, he still trembles every time he comes.

"Leo," Mr. Murphy beams up at me.

"Hello, Mr. Murphy," I say warmly to the elderly man. "How are you keeping?"

"Not bad, but I'm afraid I can't say the same for this little fellow," he says, glancing down at the huge dog still shaking under the chair.

I suppress a laugh at Mr. Murphy's description of his beloved dog.

"Well, let's get him into the surgery and we'll see what the problem is," I say as I watch the man gently coax his terrified dog out from his chosen hiding area.

"Come on, boy. It's ok. You like Leo, remember," the man coos to the oversized dog.

After about ten minutes of bribing Munchkin, we finally get him into the surgery and up on the examination table. Mr. Murphy praises his dog.

"So," I start. "What seems to be the problem?"

***

"Can you believe how fast the day just goes?" Sarah asks, as we sit in the, now spotless, reception while we eat our lunch.

"I know," I say, before taking another bite of my sandwich.

"Leo?"

"Mmm?"

"Why were you upset earlier? Before you try to deny it, don't. I heard it in your voice when I was letting you know Mr. Murphy was here."

I take a deep breath and stare down at my feet, suddenly finding the pattern of the wooden floor incredibly interesting. Sarah sits, waiting patiently for my reply. She knows me so well, knows that I need time before answering her about this particular topic.

What else could I expect after being friends with her for almost five years. We met when I was in my third year in vet school. She was studying business and dental nursing, while I was learning to become a veterinary surgeon.

"It's just hard, yanno? You probably think I'm being childish but three years," I pause. "Three years is along time to just...forget."

"Leo," Sarah says gently, reaching out and taking my hand in hers. "You don't sound childish. I understand, honestly, I do."

"Thanks, Sarah," I tell her.

"Now, come on. Enough crying. Your sandwiches will go soggy," she teases.

"God, Sarah. You sure do know how to make a man feel better," I laugh. "How's Luke getting on in school?"

"Great! He absolutely loves it!"

"That's good," I tell her, genuinely delighted that he's settling in well.

When we were in college together we immediately got on like a house on fire, so much so, that everyone in our respective courses were convinced that we'd get together. That of course, didn't happen. Little did they know that Sarah was pregnant with her long-term boyfriend's baby, who she married just under two years ago. Luke, her baby boy, was just after starting school.

When we finished college, I asked Sarah if she would be interested in working for me, should I start up my own clinic. Of course she jumped at the chance, as she couldn't find work suitable to her own hectic schedule with her two-year old son. We have been working together for the past three years, our friendship stronger than ever and Sarah's relationship with her husband stronger again. She recently told me that they were trying for their second baby and I couldn't be happier for them.

After lunch, Sarah leaves to pick her son up from school. I hear the reception door open.

"I'll be with you in a minute," I shout to whoever has arrived.

Placing the boxes I'm carrying down onto a nearby chair, I make my way towards the reception.

"Sorry about tha-"

I stop mid-sentence. My feet come to a stand still and my jaw drops. Standing on the other side of the room, is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

Her chestnut coloured hair falls in ringlets, down past her shoulders. Her warm and strangely familiar chocolate brown eyes, dance as she smiles warmly at me. A hint of colour visible on her cheeks, as the heat in the room gives her a slightly flushed look.

She's dressed in a long sleeve t-shirt, which clings to her body, highlighting her every, perfect curve, while skinny jeans emphasize her beautifully long, toned legs. 

"Hi," she greets in the most beautiful, musical voice I've ever heard.

My heart soars as my knees start to tremble. I feel like I'm in the presence of an angel, an angel who has just lifted me to heaven with her voice alone.

Please, somebody please tell me this isn't a dream.