He came to me because he barked all night. When I adopted him, the man handed me a bottle of pills. "Give him these to stop his barking," he said. I looked at him and politely took the pills as Benny climbed into the back of my Outback. We had two hours to drive home...

My drawing is on her wall. She last texted me: Gonna shoot for a breakout today, bust free from the hospital. I’m not going to make it long. A text back wouldn’t do. She answers my call. “What the hell do you mean by that?” I say to her. “I just want to get home.” Her...