Three Lonely Souls Cross Paths
A woman, no longer young but still striking, pins another notice to a lamppost before walking away, her shoulders slightly hunched. Her delicate frame begins to fade into the swirling snowflakes when a bony, freezing dog of uncertain breed and colour stops beneath the dim streetlight.
Shivering from hunger and cold, its eyes watering, the dog struggles onto its hind legs and reads the notice: *”Lonely woman seeks a friend.”* “Thats me,” the dog thinks. “Im a true friendloyal and devoted. I belong where Im wanted.”
Tearing the paper free with its teeth, it summons the last of its strength and follows the womans fading footsteps, barely visible beneath the fresh snow.
The bitter winter day turns into an even harsher night. The snow burns its paws, its sparse fur grows damp and crusted with ice, and exhaustion threatens to close its eyes for good. Yet, stumbling and staggering, the dog presses on toward the call of the lonely woman who longs for a companion.
Then, its legs give wayno strength left to stand. The snow feels unbearably heavy and cold.
Just a few steps from the fresh drift stands a tall iron fence. Behind it, the lonely woman, too restless to sleep, paces in her dressing gown and slippers, oblivious to the cold. She waits, gripped by a strange premonitionof happiness or sorrow, she cannot tell.
Suddenly, the snow beside her shifts. A half-frozen creature emerges, clutching a crumpled paper between its teeth, its eyes radiating devotion. Barely legible on the damp note are the words: *”Lonely woman seeks a friend.”*
Careful not to hurt it, the woman gathers the shivering creature in her arms and carries it inside. A quick online search brings up an emergency vets number, and with a trembling voice, she calls for help.
Thankfully, the dog survives. The kind-hearted vet prescribes a course of injections and recommends quality pet food. With no other emergencies that night, he stays for tea and homemade biscuits, chatting as the warmth of the kitchen thaws the chill of the evening.
Unmarried, he admits that women never understood his dedication to animalswhy he rushes out at all hours to mend broken bones or ease difficult births rather than chasing nights out or flings. Theyd rather hear about jewellery than see the gratitude in a rescued creatures eyes.
The woman listens, a spark igniting in her gaze. “Do you have many animals at the clinic?” she asks.
“Too many,” he sighs. “Holiday accidents, poisonings, cruel people Ive got rounds in an hourbandages and IVs. Its my shift tonight.”
“May I come? Id like to helpI know how.”
A year later, a happy family lives in a cosy little housea well-groomed dog curled by the hearth, and the scent of fresh biscuits always in the air.
