That day completely turned my life on its head. I was out on the road with the lads, heading off for a little break, when something darted under the wheel and forced me to hit the brakes hard. We stopped to see what the fuss was about and I was left absolutely gobsmacked.
We were cruising down the lane, all smilessun shining, tunes blasting, jokes flying, and the only thing on our minds was a proper grill, a few cold ones, and a few days with no worries at all.
The road wound its way through a patch of woods, and out of nowhere something zipped straight under the tyre. I slammed the brakes, the car skidded a touch to one side, and everyone went quiet.
Did you see that? whispered Poppy, gripping Sams arm a bit tighter.
Something just went, I muttered, hopping out of the car in a flash.
We shuffled over to the edge of the lane, my heart pounding like it already knew what was about to happen.
And then I saw ita tiny creature huddled under a bush. A little Chihuahuatype puppy, trembling, dirty, exhausted and looking as scared as you can imagine. Its ears stuck out in opposite directions, its eyes wide with fear but also a flicker of trust. It didnt bark, just stared.
How did it end up here? Poppy whispered, crouching beside it.
I reckon someone tossed it, Sam said, frowning. They drove past and just left it.
In that instant something shifted inside me. It was like watching myself from the outside.
I scooped the little thing up. It didnt fight; it just tucked its nose against my neck. Thats when it hit methere was no going back now. It was ours. Actually, it was mine. Before I even knew it, I blurted out, Come on then, youre called Baxter now.
The holiday turned out nothing like wed planned. No raves, no shouting, no lazy days on the beach. Instead we ended up with vet visits, washing three blankets a day, nighttime walks, and that endless question: What on earth do we feed this little rascal?
But we were happy. All of us. Especially Baxter. He seemed to sense his luck had changed and showed it in everything he didby licking our faces, staying loyal, and giving a tiny, contented sigh whenever he curled up on my lap.
Two years marched on.
I moved to York, quit that dreadful office job, and took up photographyBaxter was my first model, after all. Now weve got a tiny studio, and we barely ever part ways. You know, sometimes life doesnt shift because you decide it
It shifts because, out of nowhere, a little dog appears and simply wont let you walk on.
That day truly rewrote my whole story, and Im grateful for every single second of it.
