Sweetest Pain

He is cruel: rebuffing my affectionate touch. Unresponsive to the silent pleading in my loving eyes. His appetites all must be satisfied before he grudgingly allows—just briefly—the embrace of my hungry arms. Yet, I am beguiled more each day, tightly tethered to an inexplicably expanding love. Damnable puppy!

Jan Bartelli is a former journalist, a more-or-less retired attorney, and a less-is-more writer of creative nonfiction.