Buster's Journey

Buster, Mara, and Leo step out of the alley and into a quiet, tree-lined street. Functional streetlights cast soft pools over trimmed hedges, parked cars, and a row of modest houses. Ahead, one porch light glows warm against the night.

Leo slows at the front walk, nerves written all over his shoulders, but relief keeps pulling him forward. Mara stays a half-step back, scanning the windows and the dark lawns out of habit.

Leo reaches the porch first and fumbles for the door, then stops as if remembering himself. He turns back toward Buster and Mara, gratitude and exhaustion mixing in his face.

Inside, a light clicks on deeper in the house, and the front door opens a crack. The smell of warm air and dinner drifts out, along with a cautious adult voice asking Leo if that is him. The porch light hums softly as the night holds still.

Buster gives Leo a small nod and a steadying gesture toward the open door. Leo takes a breath, then steps inside, and the worried adult at the threshold draws him in at once.