By the side of the road, Den, a sleek black dog with eyes that were filled with emotion, was lying calmly. Despite the fact that it was his third birthday today, there was no celebration, no happy barking, no goodies, and no belly massages. On the contrary, Den had an intense sense of melancholy that pulled at his heart. Only a few weeks ago, he had a home, a place where he felt loved and protected. He loved and felt safe there. The owner of this dog was a kind and friendly guy who always had a grin on his face. He would take him on long walks and play fetch with him in the park. Den would show his delight by wagging his tail, and he could see that the connection between them was becoming deeper with each passing day.
On the other hand, everything shifted one day. During the time that his owner was packing up a few things, Den saw a shift in his mood. The previously friendly grin of the guy had been replaced by a distant expression, and the man’s touch had a chillier sensation. Den attempted to nuzzle him in the hope of rekindling the warmth that they had previously associated with one another, but his attempts were fruitless. Den had no clue that the day his owner took him out to the middle of nowhere would be the final time he would see the guy he loved. He was completely unaware this day.
The memory of the occasion was quite clear to Den. The automobile came to a halt, and the person who owned it opened the door. Den hastened out of his seat, anticipating either another stroll or a game of fetch. On the other hand, when he turned around, the door of the vehicle was already closed, and before he could even begin to fathom what was going on, the automobile drove away, leaving him feeling alone and bewildered.
Den stayed at the location where he had been abandoned for many days, expecting that his owner would come back. It was incomprehensible to him why he had been abandoned, why the person in whom he had placed his faith had abandoned him. During the days, the days were long, and the nights were chilly. During his hunt for food and water, Den’s coat, which had previously been bright, grew dull, and his vitality began to decrease.
By the time Den reached his third birthday, he was still lying in the same location, the weight of his loneliness pressing down on him. As he observed, he saw that some of the individuals who passed by gave him a sympathetic look, while others chose to ignore him entirely. He ached for the warmth of a house and the comfort of his owner’s touch, but all he had was the icy pavement and the memory of brighter times that were beginning to fade away.
Den attempted to prevent himself from feeling the discomfort by closing his eyes as the day progressed. At the very moment when he was on the verge of falling asleep, he became aware of a soft hand stroking his fur. Den was taken aback when he glanced up and saw a kind lady kneeling next to him. Her eyes were full with warmth and sympathy. When she talked to him, her voice was soothing, and it helped to calm his anxious heart. Without any hesitation, she snatched him up into her arms and cradled him like if he were a kid.
For the first time in what seemed like weeks, Den experienced a flicker of optimism, even though he had no idea what the future contained. Perhaps, just perhaps, this would be the beginning of a new chapter in his life—a chapter in which he would not be alone on his birthday, and in which he would also have the opportunity to discover love and happiness once again.