Free A Shift in the Water by Patricia D. Eddy

stomach growled, hungry for the first time in days. Now this is one perk of dying. Comfort food for every meal . The rich, cheesy scents of childhood, of her mother’s love, filled the kitchen and reminded her that she wasn’t dead yet. There was still joy in her life, bits of sunshine amid the clouds, and for now, there was an animal who needed her.
    She glanced over at the sleeping wolf. Nothing about him made sense. How could so powerful an animal be reduced to a mangy, dying, haunted shell? And what else could she do to help him in the little time she had left? Biting into the golden brown, oozing sandwich, feeling the hollow in her belly lessen, she realized she didn’t have anything left in the house he could eat. Her keys glinted in the winter sunlight. She felt good enough to drive. He needed food and she’d make sure he had it.

    The aisles of Whole Foods were packed the day before Thanksgiving. Mara wove in and out of the crowds, browsing articles on her smart phone to figure out what gray wolves ate. Primarily meat, but also some berries and even fresh vegetables if they came across them. She piled the cart high with ten pounds of beef, six pounds of bison, several bags of baby carrots, blueberries, and blackberries. For herself, she added a chocolate bar, some coconut milk eggnog, chips, and a box of Christmas-themed sugar cookies.
    The checker was as frazzled as the crowds, but after the fifth package of beef, he stopped and stared at Mara. “Wow. That’s a lot of meat.”
    “My family doesn’t do turkey,” Mara said, forcing a smile. “And we eat a lot.”
    “You? You’re skin and bones.”
    The smile fell away. “Yeah, well. Lucky, I suppose.” And dying. With a wolf waiting for me at home.
     He was not only waiting for her, he was excited to see her. Or perhaps he’d been frightened by her absence or her return, or both. When she walked in the door, he yipped and pressed his whole body against her legs, shaking.
    “Whoa there! Someone woke up. You need to go out?” Mara slid past him and set the bag on the counter. He followed, watching her intently. “I guess not. Okay then. Food?” She pulled out a package of bison and held it out. His mouth watered and a bit of drool fell to the floor with a plop . Mara grimaced. “Ugh. I guess so.”
    No sooner had she put the plate of bison down on the floor when the phone rang. Mara glanced at the caller ID. Adam. Great , she thought. How the hell am I going to explain to him that the wolf is still here and I have no plans to call Fish and Wildlife?
    “Hey Adam.”
    “Well, what happened?” The blare of a car horn made her wince.
    “Are you driving?” She tsk-tsked him.
    “I’ve got a hands-free kit. You’re stalling. What happened with Fish and Wildlife?”
    “I didn’t call them.”
    “Did you bury him in the yard? Shit, Mara. That’s illegal.”
    “Well, first of all, do you really think I care about being thrown in jail right now? I’m going to be dead in six weeks.” The wolf’s head snapped up. He stopped eating and watched her. There was something in that look: fear, longing, shock. Mara shook her head and unwrapped the chocolate bar. “Second of all, he’s not dead. He’s devouring a pound of bison as we speak.”
    “He’s going to devour you soon. That’s not a dog you’ve got there. That’s a wild animal. I’m on my way over. Don’t go near him.”
    “Oh for fuck’s sake, Adam. He’s sitting here right next to me and he’s as docile as can be. He’s not a danger to me. I can’t really explain it, but he needs me right now.” She didn’t know how to explain to Adam that she thought she needed the wolf too.
    “I’m five minutes away.”
    “The door’s unlocked. Come on in.”
    Mara put the rest of the groceries away and went back to the couch. She needed to sit down. Or swim. She wasn’t feeling well. The wolf staggered over to her and lowered his body onto the blanket she’d laid out for him. “Don’t