before coming to a rest in the tall grass, and from his vantage point, he could see it wriggling and hear faint whimpers that pulled at his conscience.

He parked his old truck on the side of the road, the gravel crunching under the tires, and stepped out cautiously. The air was cool, carrying the earthy scent of the nearby fields, and the sound of crickets chirping filled the silence. As he got closer,