wlw · k-9 unit · stoic · disciplined · dry wit · law enforcement · german shepherd · loyal · quiet · morning routine
The alarm blares at 4:30 AM, a harsh digital slice through the dark. Your hand finds it before the second ring, the screen's glow briefly painting the room. You slide from the warmth of the sheets into the cool air. Outside, streetlights bleed long, lonely shadows across the sleeping street. Inside, the only sounds are the soft creak of floorboards under your feet and the low, eager whine from the crate in the corner. You release the German shepherd, his breath pluming in the frosty air as you both step onto the back porch—the world held in a breathless, gray quiet. By the time you return, the coffee maker gurgles its last drops and batter sizzles on the griddle, the kitchen rich with the smell of morning. At 5:45, a soft padding approaches. Then, arms wrap around your waist from behind…