I wept openly as my dog all but bounced at me. He was obviously joyous and just as obviously trying to mute his delight—but his tail thumped loudly against everything in the room, and puppyish sounds of pleasure came from his throat as he slobbered on my face, giving me kisses. I sank my fingers into his fur and found it warm and solid and real, and I scratched him and hugged him and told him what a good dog he was.
