Spotting the dog lying beside the bench, she rushed toward it. Her gaze fell upon the leash, carelessly discarded by Natasha.
As soon as she saw the dog sprawled by the bench, she bolted over. There it wasthe leash Natasha had tossed aside without a second thought. Max stared up at his owner with swollen, pleading eyes…
Her brother and she hadnt spoken properly in nearly two years. Ellen still couldnt fathom how a trivial disagreement had spiraled into such a bitter feud.
Ellen and Walter Rutherford were born a year apart. Since childhood, they had been inseparable, always standing up for one another. No matter what mischief they got into, they shared the blame equallynever hiding behind the other.
Their hometown, Willowbrook, had flourished year after year. They were fortunate with their villages leaderGraham Whitlock, a man born and raised there, who proved to be an exceptional economic mind.
After graduating from agricultural college, he returned to Willowbrook and threw himself into work. His efforts were soon recognized, and within a decade, Graham became the head of the village council.
His personal life flourished as well. Ellen, after finishing nursing school, began working at the local clinic. Graham couldnt walk past such beauty without a second glance. Ellen returned his interest. They married, and the whole village celebrated their wedding. Walter was genuinely happy for his sisters joy, though his own marriage to Natasha was far from harmonious.
When Ellen was still single, Natasha would grumble about hercalling her useless or stuck-up. But after the wedding, resentment festered into jealousy. Natasha began demanding more from her husbanda bigger house, a nicer car, a finer coat…
She threw bitter words at Walter: *”Others have everything, and we have nothing!”* He tried his best, but neither money nor effort could satisfy Natashas hunger.
She was miserable in her own wayGod had not blessed her with motherhood. And all the while, Ellen thrived: married well, bore a son and a daughter, built a spacious home, while her husband rose to a respectable position…
Family gatherings increasingly ended in fights. Every time Walter visited Ellens home, Natasha would berate him afterward.
The final explosion happened on Walters birthday. Ellen gifted him a Labrador puppysomething hed always wanted. Graham gave him a new motorbike.
Everything was fine until Natasha, drunk, flew into a rage and hurled her pent-up fury at Ellen:
*”Whats this, Ellie? The dogis that some kind of dig? No kids, so we get a dog instead, is that it?!”*
Ellen tried to calm her:
*”Natasha, pull yourself together. Youll regret this later…”*
But her words fell on deaf ears. A huge row erupted, splitting the guests into factions. Graham quietly urged Ellen to leave, and they slipped away after quick goodbyes.
Two years passed. That night, Walter began avoiding his sister. Their contact dwindled to rare, brief encounters. Tension between him and Natasha grew.
Evenings, Walter often walked along the river with Max. They seemed contentWalter tossing sticks, Max bounding after them, then flopping at his feet, listening to his quiet tales.
Ellen heard about this from neighbors but did nothingWalter remained stubborn.
After the disastrous fight, Natashas hatred for Ellenand for Maxdeepened. When Walter wasnt home, she chased the dog out, shouting, sometimes even hitting him.
Gossiping neighbors only fueled her rage:
*”Natasha, your husbands down by the river with that dog again…”*
*”Yesterday, he ran into Ellen, her husband, and the kids. Laughing, having a grand time!”*
Jealousy consumed Natasha. One day, Walter asked:
*”Natasha, you havent been hurting Max, have you?”*
*”As if I care about your stupid dog!”* she snapped before storming out.
Max began hiding from Natasha, trembling at the sight of her.
Everything ended one morning when Walter, furious, threw down his words:
*”Ive had enough of this endless jealousy!”*
Alone, Natasha dragged Max into the yard, tied him to the bench, and lashed him with her belt. The poor dog whimpered in pain. Once her rage was spent, she flung the belt aside, packed her things, and left for good.
That evening, Walter returned home to find Max missing from the gate. The house was in disarray. At the bench, he found Max, fists clenching. He untied him swiftly, cradled him, and raced to the clinic.
Ellen was preparing to leave when she saw her brother clutching the bleeding dog:
*”Ellie, help…”* he croaked.
They carried Max to the examination room. Ellen checked him thoroughly:
*”Who did this to him?”*
*”Natasha…”* Walters gaze dropped.
Ellen nodded silently. She stitched his wounds, cleaned his eyes, gave him water.
Later, in the hallway, Walter whispered guiltily:
*”Forgive me, Ellie…”*
*”Dont be silly,”* she replied with a tired smile. *”And Natasha…?”*
*”No, Ellie. Never again.”*
Ellen called Graham:
*”Graham, come get me, please.”*
Hearing the exhaustion in his wifes voice, Graham left at once.
Half an hour later, he stood in the hallway. Seeing the siblings embracing, Max softly whining beside them, he asked no questionsjust smiled.
*”Come on then, heroes.”*
They took Walter home, advising him on Maxs care.
When Ellen told their mother what had happened, she sighed:
*”He should have left her long ago.”*
With that, she set off to help her son clean the house.
On the porch, Walter sat stroking Max. His mother reached them, touching both gently:
*”Still alive?”*
*”Still alive,”* Walter replied.
From inside, rich aromas driftedroast meat and fresh vegetables. Max sniffed the air, tail wagging. Walter smiled and stood.
Life went on.
