The dog barked, too late. She stumbled to the kitchen, dropped her towel over the puddle. He nosed his bowl into its folds.

She returned to the couch.

The interview was in an hour, but she was naked, too raw.

He followed, whimpering.

“Shhh,” she said.

They were both hungry.

Kiran Kaur Saini’s work has appeared in Glimmer Train, Pleiades, and elsewhere. See more at kirankaursaini.com