Yes, dogs are incredibly loyal! But their loyalty belongs to those who truly love them and they dont forgive betrayal.
Jess ran after the car, desperate not to be left alone in a strange place. She didnt want to be abandoned or forgotten.
She ran after the person she loved, the one she trusted until the very end the person she could never betray, simply because she didnt know how.
Claire, meet Jess! I said with a broad grin, introducing my dog to the young woman standing at my door. Claire was about twenty, teetering on impossibly high heels, making her look nearly a head taller than me.
Shes a lovely dog and very well-behaved. Im sure youll get on. Actually, Im certain you will!
Jess wagged her tail excitedly around my legs, but eyed Claire with clear suspicion.
Its normal for dogs to be wary of strangers. But this was different. Jess could sense something about Claire, something she didnt like at all.
It wasnt the sickeningly sweet cloud of her perfume though that scent could have put off even the most patient but something else entirely. Dogs have a way of sniffing out bad eggs.
Jess had that talent in spades. Her instincts had never failed her.
When out and about, Jess would always try to steer me clear of unsavoury people, sometimes even against my will. She did it because she cared she loved me and looked out for my happiness in her own way.
But what could she do in a small flat? And besides, I was treating Claire with such care and affection.
I hugged Claire, kissed her
Catching Jesss uneasy glare, Claire grabbed my hand and ushered me into the kitchen, shutting the door behind us. Speaking in half-whispers, she asked, Why didnt you tell me you had a dog?
There wasnt a reason to, I whispered back. Is it a problem?
Yes, it is! I cant stand dogs I wont have one living with us. Whats her name again?
Jess
Right. Jess. Listen, said Claire, giving me a look that made her point clear, as long as that dog is here, Im not moving in and theres no chance of a wedding.
I just cant be around dogs, you know? Youll have to choose who matters more to you: me or her.
Rain was pouring down like nobodys business. The windscreen wipers battled the downpour with furious swipes as I sped through the dark city streets, my face gloomier than the sky outside.
Inside, I felt filthy, like someone had poured a bucket of dirty water over my soul, all because I was doing something I despised. But I loved Claire or at least I told myself I did. It hardly mattered now.
What did matter: Claires father had promised to sort out the mess with my struggling business. He was an influential man and, if he said hed help, he meant it.
It was a genuine shot at saving my small construction company and maybe, finally, finding some success in life. Turning down such a chance wouldve been foolish.
After leaving the city behind, I pressed my foot to the floor. The rain hammered harder, the wind howled. It was as if the heavens themselves tried to stop me, drumming relentlessly on metal and glass, shouting, Think again!
Jess lay on the back seat, nose pressed to the window, watching the raindrops snake down the glass. Ever since Claires arrival, shed sensed a change. Id become distant, cold as autumn rain no words, no gentle pats. I was growing into a stranger.
I pulled onto the hard shoulder and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled through the cabin as I sat, hood pulled low.
I stepped out. Jess waited anxiously for what might come next.
And then, in a scene I hope never to repeat, I opened the back door, billowing out poisonous smoke. I grabbed Jess by her collar and hauled her out into the rain. She whimpered.
Then came two loud slams first the back door, then the front.
The car lurched away, speeding back towards the city, heavy drops thundering down.
Jess stood alone in the middle of the road, staring after me, rain biting into her fur.
And she took off. Jess chased the car, refusing to be left in the unknown, desperate to cling to the one she loved and trusted, the one she simply couldnt betray.
But no matter how hard she ran, what chance did she have against a car tearing down the road at sixty miles an hour? She was just a regular dog, not a cheetah.
Her drenched coat weighed her down, heavy with water.
The red taillights disappeared into the night, but still, Jess ran, unable to stop herself.
Sometimes, when you cant stop, fate steps in for you. Not out of cruelty, but because chasing your past serves no purpose.
Tyres screeched, there was a dull thud. The driver leapt out, hands clasping his head in panic.
There, on the wet tarmac, Jess lay still. He approached carefully, peering into her eyes.
Eyes that still reflected trust, though every moment it was clouded by sorrow and defeat.
Thank heavens, shes alive, thought Mark.
He carefully propped open his car door, spread his jacket on the back seat, and gently lifted Jess, placing her on the makeshift bed.
It was late, so the only place for help was the all-night veterinary clinic in town. He headed straight there, occasionally glancing at Jess as she twitched her hind legs, as if she was still running.
The vet agreed to see his midnight patient without charge for the initial check. Mark stumbled through an explanation of what had happened.
It was clear to the vet: the poor animal had been dumped. Sadly, it wasnt the first such case in town.
Luckily, nothing broken just a few bruises. The vet prescribed some ointment and advised keeping a cold pack on the swelling for a day.
Mark brought Jess home, tossed his jacket on the floor, and carefully settled her on top.
Its just for now, he told her, voice gentle.
By the tenth day, Jess was on the mend. She was still limping on one paw, but getting about and thats what counted. The limp would fade with time.
Thrown out into the street, werent you? Mark said aloud, sitting on the bed next to her.
Hed never had a dog before. Or friends with dogs, for that matter. Actually, he didnt really have any friends at all. Once he did, but theyd let him down.
One ran off with his girlfriend, another shafted him in business badly enough that Mark had to declare bankruptcy. The third dragged him into some dodgy deal, causing all sorts of strife with the police.
Thankfully, Mark pulled through and, determined to cut ties with his past, moved to a new city.
He had to ring the vet for every little doggie dilemma. The man was kind enough to hand over his business card, telling Mark to call if he needed a hand.
With the vets advice, Mark managed to bathe Jess, washing away the dried muck.
Hed braced himself for a struggle, but Jess accepted the bath without fuss.
Later, he checked with the vet about food, and took her in twice for follow-ups, just to be sure she was recovering mentally as well as physically.
Still, Jess worried him. Her appetite was poor, she lay around all day, barely noticing Mark.
It happens, the vet explained.
Dr. Graham advised long walks to speed up her recovery.
Just take her out and dont expect anything from her in return. In time, shell come round. You might even become true companions.
As the vet said, so it went. Old wounds, even those of the heart, do heal. Six weeks after their meeting on the road, Mark and Jess had struck up a friendship.
Maybe not inseparable best friends just yet, but Jess clearly trusted him, even eating better. Though now, she wasnt Jess she was Lizzie.
A new life with a new name. She took to it quickly, perhaps because it was so close to her old one or maybe the old one had lost all charm.
No matter the weather, every day found them out for a walk and happy in each others company.
Only on rainy days did Lizzies eyes turn sad and shiny. Not from the rain, but from memories.
Forgetting what had happened was hard. Dogs are not people, but they feel much the same. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never had a dog.
One misty afternoon, while walking through the park, Lizzie suddenly tore off to chase a cat as I was queuing for a coffee.
November cold bit deep, so the hot drink helped a little. I turned around, and Lizzie was gone.
Abandoning my paper cup, I dashed off searching, not knowing where to run, only certain I had to.
Meanwhile, Lizzie barked her head off at a cat stranded in a tree, desperate to coax it down for another chase.
A sleek black 4×4 pulled up and out stepped Simon.
Hed stopped for the shops but froze, staring ahead.
Jess!
The dog didnt immediately recognise the name, but when Simon called again and she heard his familiar tones she turnedand stared.
Jess, come here! Simon crouched, arms open, smiling.
She wanted to dash to him, but held back. What goes through a dogs mind at times like these, no one can say. But they certainly think.
He betrayed her! Left her all alone. Or did he? Had she misunderstood? Maybe he searched for her all this time?
Her tail gave a tentative wiggle from joy, nerves, or something else.
Sensing her uncertainty, Simon vaulted the little fence and strode over, hand outstretched.
Jess, love, Im so glad I found you! Come on, come here, its alright!
He stroked her gently, pulling her to him. She didnt resist but nor did she show any happiness. She didnt wag her tail, didnt dance at his feet, as she once might have.
Something held her back.
Spotting the scene, I rushed over and saw Simon clutching Lizzies collar, pulling her towards the car.
What do you think youre doing? Thats my dog!
I grabbed Simons shoulder and spun him around to face me.
I said, what do you think youre doing? Thats my dog!
Is it?
What do you mean? Lizzie, come here!
She tried to move to me, but Simon held her tight.
Lizzie? Shes Jess! My Jess I raised her from a pup, and then
And then what? I pressed him, picking up on what was happening.
None of your business! Shes my dog and Im taking her back, got it?
No, you dont! Shes staying with me; dont argue, just walk away.
What?!
Simons face flushed as he balled his fists in rage. He started to raise a hand, but Lizzie whod watched the standoff in cold silence suddenly growled, teeth bared, and shook herself free, turning on Simon with a snarl.
He froze, more from shock than fear. Jess had never done that before.
Shed never threatened him never looked at him like that, eyes filled with resolve, as if ready to stand her ground, fight if she had to.
Simon lowered his hand and retreated a pace or two.
Lizzie, dont. Come on, I said quietly.
She came to me, nudged my leg, and bowed her head as I clipped on her lead.
We strolled down an avenue carpeted with fallen leaves, not looking back once. Simon stood watching, fists tight with helpless fury.
Things with Claire had crumbled, no wedding came to pass, and her father never did bail out my business. I was forced to sell it to pay off my debts. I could never forgive myself for what Id done that night.
But I couldnt change it either.
Yes, dogs are incredibly loyal but only to those who love them. And they never forgive betrayal.
Reflecting on everything, Ive learned that love and loyalty must be earned, not demanded and true friends, whether two-legged or four, are those we stand by, no matter what.
