He smells my dog.
For a long time after, I couldn’t go near another dog. Just seeing one caused me to crumble emotionally.
The first time that I gathered my strength to approach and pat another dog,
as it sniffed my pant leg as they so often do, I had to stifle what had always been an automatic response, “he smells my dog”.
And maybe they do still smell my dog, but I can't say it anymore.
I still think it though.
