Gerald woke to the bittersweet, or perhaps disgusting yet heartwarming? licking of Jenny. He reflexively awaited the disgust as the hot wet saliva started to cool on his face and was shocked only to feel a pleasant minty evaporation, like rubbing alcohol. The prickly sensation jerked his eyes awake, and he was momentarily struck by what a great Dog Jenny was.

Currently, she was running laps, colloquially tippytaps, in the universal signal of walk time to dog owners everywhere. In this way, he came across a similarly entrancing image in a glass pane to his left. His mouth went dry immediately.

The man radiated a halo that spoke of oligarchy and refinement. His eyes pierced deeply into you and you felt yourself laid bear to him. It was a bit creepy to be honest, but it was everything Gerald had ever wanted to be.

"What did you do to me?

"Wait why, and how, is this me? Now?"

Jenny chuffed in amusement.

"I wanted to help, I feel like I did a good job. And it is you, exactly as you were yesterday. But now I'm your dog."

"So what did you do?"

"I became your dog"

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Gerald dropped that line of questioning, anticipating the tension headache that would come from going in circles like so.

Still he wondered.

"Exactly who and what are you?"

Jenny whined in good cheer.

"I'm you-"

"I know you're my dog, but before then, what were you?"

"I wasn't anything in particular, which is not to say I was nothing, there's so much here that o can't tell this from that anymore -"

"Maybe just tell me why you're doing this then"

"Because I'm your-"

"Don't say you're my dog"

".... Because I want to help?"

"To help me"

Jenny's tail wagged in agreement.

"Do what?"

Jenny's tail paused.

"What do you want to do Gerald?"

Gerald looked in the mirror and saw the man he wanted to be, patrician in bearing unblemished by the drab surroundings, ruler of all he surveyed. This was a man who had things, and no one would dare take them away.

Gerald opened his mouth and felt his throat close up. He didn't know what was happening, but Jenny, his Dog, said he could be this guy, said he was this guy. Was he willing to sink into this delusion?

He looked around at the drab one bedroom house he rented at a pittance. The few things he owned, that were not left behind by the previous tenants, glowed to him like a firefly in the darkness. These were the things he cherished, but the were small, a cup, a spoon, the most basic odds and ends, things he had because nobody saw any value in taking from him. He wanted more.

He could already feel the results of the delusion take effect. He felt stronger more confident, more vital, he decided it wasn't so bad.

Through all his rumination Jenny had been sitting still head cocked, waiting for her Gerald to decide.

"Jenny, I want to get more"

"I can help you with that Gerald, but first I really would like a walk"