The prisoner’s final wish was to see his dog one last time: but as soon as the dog entered his cell, something strange happened.
His last request before the final verdictthe one that would mark the end of his lifewas to see his German Shepherd. The prisoner accepted his fate with quiet resignation.
Twelve years, day after day, he had woken in the cold confines of Cell B-17. Accused of taking a mans life, he had sworn his innocence, but no one listened. At first, he foughtappeals, lawyers, desperate pleasbut over time, he simply stopped. He waited.
The only thing that had ever mattered was his dog. He had no other family. The German Shepherd wasnt just a pet; she was his family, his friend, the only soul he trusted. He had found her as a puppy, shivering in an alley, and from that moment, they had never been apart.
When the prison governor brought the form for his final request, the man didnt ask for a lavish meal, a cigar, or a priest, as many did. He only whispered:
“I want to see my dog. One last time.”
At first, the staff were wary. Was this some kind of trick? But on the appointed day, before the sentence was carried out, they led him into the yard. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he saw her.
The moment she spotted him, the Shepherd tore free of her lead and bolted toward him. Time seemed to stop.
What happened next stunned everyone. The prison officers stood frozen, unsure what to do.
The dog wrenched from the officers grip and raced to her owner with such force, as if she could erase twelve years of separation in a single, desperate bound.
She crashed into his arms, knocking him back, and for the first time in years, the prisoner felt neither the chill of his cell nor the weight of his chains. Only warmth.
He clutched her tightly, burying his face in her thick fur. Tears hed denied himself for over a decade finally broke free.
He wept openly, unashamed, like a child, while the dog whimpered softly, as if she too understood their time was running out.
“Youre my girl my faithful girl,” he murmured, holding her tighter. “What will you do without me?”
His hands trembled as he stroked her back, over and over, memorizing every detail. The dog gazed up at him with unwavering devotion.
“Forgive me for leaving you alone,” his voice cracked, rough with grief. “I couldnt prove the truth but I was always there for you.”
The guards stood motionless. Some looked away. Even the hardest among them couldnt remain indifferentthis wasnt a criminal before them, but a man clinging to the last living piece of his world.
Lifting his eyes to the prison governor, his voice broke as he pleaded:
“Take care of her.”
He begged the governor to take her home, promising in return he would go quietly, without resistance, to meet his fate.
The silence that followed was unbearable. The dog barked sharply, loudly, as if protesting what was to come.
And the prisoner only held her one last time, crushing her against his chest the way a man does when he knows hell never let go again.
