Spotting the dog lying by the bench, she rushed over. Her gaze fell on the leash, carelessly left behind by Natalie.
The moment she saw the dog sprawled by the bench, she hurried straight to it. Her eyes caught something else toothe leash Natalie had tossed aside so thoughtlessly. Max peered up at his owner with swollen, pleading eyes
It had been nearly two years since shed spoken properly to her brother. Emily still couldnt fathom how a silly little spat had spiralled into such a bitter feud.
Emily and William Robinson were born a year apart. Since childhood, theyd been inseparable, always standing up for one another. No matter what mischief they got into, they took equal blamenever ducking behind the other.
Their hometown, Willowbrook, had flourished over the years. They were lucky with their local council leaderPeter Mitchell, born and bred there, turned out to be a brilliant economist.
After finishing agricultural university, he returned to the village and threw himself into work. His efforts soon paid off, and within a decade, Peter became Willowbrooks council chairman.
His personal life wasnt too shabby either. Emily, having finished her nursing diploma, started work at the local clinic. Peter couldnt just walk past such beauty without a second glanceand Emily returned his interest. They married, and the whole village celebrated the wedding. William was genuinely happy for his sister, though his own marriage to Natalie was far less blissful.
When Emily was still single, Natalie occasionally grumbled about hercalling her stuck-up or useless. But after the wedding, grumbling turned to jealousy. Natalie began demanding more from her husbanda bigger house, a posher car, a nicer coat
She threw it in Williams face more and more: “Everyone else has everything, and weve got nothing!” He tried his best, but Natalies desires couldnt be satisfiednot by money, not by effort.
Partly, Natalie was miserable for another reason: the Lord hadnt blessed her with motherhood. Meanwhile, Emily married well, had a boy, then a girl, built a spacious house, and her husband climbed the social ladder
Family gatherings increasingly ended in rows. Every time William visited Emilys, Natalie would berate him the moment he got home.
The final explosion happened on Williams birthday. Emily brought him a Labrador puppy from the citysomething hed always wanted. Peter even gifted him a shiny new motorbike.
Everything was fineuntil Natalie, well into the wine, unleashed her pent-up fury on Emily:
“Oh, whats this then, Em? A dogsome kind of dig, is it? Since we cant have kids, may as well get a mutt, eh?”
Emily tried to calm things:
“Natalie, love, take a breath. Youll regret this later”
But it didnt help. A full-blown row erupted, guests picking sides. Peter quietly suggested to his wife they leave, and with a stiff goodbye, they went.
Two years passed. After that night, William started avoiding his sistertheir contact reduced to brief, rare encounters. Tension between him and Natalie grew too.
Evenings, William often walked Max by the river. They seemed happy together: William tossing sticks, Max bounding after them, then flopping at his feet, listening to his quiet stories.
Emily heard about this from the neighbours but did nothingWilliam stayed stubborn.
After the wretched argument, Natalies hatred for Emilyand the dog shed givendeepened. When William wasnt home, shed shoo Max outside, shout at him, even hit him sometimes.
Nosy neighbours only stirred the pot:
“Nat, love, your Williams down by the river with that dog again”
“Yesterday, he bumped into Emily, her husband, and the kidsall laughing like it was Christmas!”
Jealousy swallowed Natalie whole. One day, William asked:
“Natalie, you havent been rough with Max, have you?”
“Why would I bother with your stupid dog?!” she snapped, storming off.
Max hid from her more and more, trembling whenever she appeared.
It all ended one morning when William slammed the door, snarling:
“Ive had it with this endless jealousy!”
Alone and seething, Natalie dragged Max outside, tied him to the bench, and lashed him with the leash. The poor thing yelped in pain. Once her rage cooled, she dropped the leash, packed her bags, and left for good.
That evening, William came home to find no Max at the gate. The house was a mess. By the bench, he found Maxhis fists clenched. Quickly untying him, he scooped him up and rushed to the vet.
Emily was about to leave when she spotted her brother cradling the bleeding dog:
“Em, help” he croaked.
They carried Max into the treatment room. Emily examined him carefully:
“Who did this?”
“Natalie” William looked away.
Emily nodded silently. She stitched the wounds, cleaned his eyes, gave him water.
Later, in the corridor, William murmured guiltily:
“Sorry, Em”
“Dont be daft,” she smiled tiredly. “And Natalie?”
“No, Em. Not after this.”
Emily called Peter:
“Pete, love, come get me, would you?”
Hearing her exhausted voice, he was out the door in seconds.
Half an hour later, he stood in the corridor. Seeing the siblings clinging to each other, Max whimpering softly beside them, he didnt ask questionsjust grinned:
“Right then, heroes. Lets get you home.”
They took William back, giving him strict instructions on Maxs care.
When Emily told their mum what happened, she just sighed:
“Shouldve left her years ago.”
Then she marched over to her sons to help tidy up.
On the porch, William sat stroking Max. His mother arrived, ruffling both their heads:
“Still alive?”
“Still alive,” William replied.
From inside, a delicious smell waftedroast beef and fresh veg. Max sniffed the air, tail wagging. William smiled and stood up.
Life went on.
