It was a cold, gray morning when the man walked down a quiet dirt road, his old jacket zipped up to his chin and his loyal dog trotting behind him. The sky was heavy, filled with the promise of rain, and the air carried that lonely stillness that only early morning can bring. The dog didn’t understand where they were going, but it didn’t matter.
Wherever his human went, that was home. His tail wagged happily, his paws tapping the ground with pure trust. The man, however, had a different look distant eyes, heavy steps, and the weight of a decision that would soon break a heart.
When they reached the edge of the woods, the man stopped. He looked around no one was there. The only sound was the rustle of the trees and the faint whine of the dog waiting for a command. He knelt down, ran a trembling hand over the dog’s head, and whispered softly, “I’m sorry.” The dog wagged its tail again, thinking it was time to play, but the man stood up and took a few steps backward.
At first, the dog barked, thinking it was a game. He ran a few steps forward, waiting for his owner to turn around and laugh like he always did. But this time, there was no laughter, no signal to come. The man didn’t stop. He just kept walking faster, farther, until his shape disappeared behind the trees.
Days turned into nights, and the loyal animal never left that spot. Rain fell, the wind howled, and hunger burned his small stomach, but he refused to go. He chased away the cold by curling into a ball, watching the same direction his master had gone. Each sound a branch snapping, a car passing made him lift his head in hope. And each time, disappointment settled again. People from nearby houses began to notice him.
Weeks later, a stranger drove by on his way home. Through the fogged window, he saw a shape under a tree — a thin dog, drenched and shaking. Something about the sight made him stop. He stepped out of the car and slowly approached. “Hey, buddy,” he said quietly. The dog lifted his head, his eyes dull but still hopeful. The man crouched, not reaching out too fast. He placed some food on the ground and waited. Minutes passed. Then the dog, weak and trembling, crawled closer and finally began to eat.
