The condemned man’s final wish was to see his dog one last time, but when the animal entered the prison cell, something unexpected unfolded.
His last request before the final verdictthe one that would seal his fatewas to lay eyes on his loyal Alsatian. The prisoner faced his doom with quiet resignation.
Twelve long years had passed, each day waking within the cold stone walls of Cell B-17. Accused of taking a mans life, he swore his innocence, yet no one listened. At first, he foughtlodging appeals, pleading with solicitorsbut in time, he surrendered. All that remained was the wait for judgment.
Only one thought had sustained him all those years: his dog. He had no other kin. The Alsatian wasnt merely a petshe was his family, his confidant, the only soul he trusted. Hed found her as a shivering pup in a back alley, and from that day, they had been inseparable.
When the warden brought the form asking his final wish, the man didnt request a feast, a fine cigar, or even a clergyman, as many did. His voice was barely above a whisper:
“I want to see my dog. One last time.”
At first, the staff doubted him. Was this some cunning ploy? Yet on the appointed day, before the sentence was carried out, they led him into the yard. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he was reunited with his hound.
The moment she saw him, the Alsatian tore free from her leash and bolted toward him. Time itself seemed to pause.
What happened next left them all dumbstruck. The wardens stood frozen, uncertain how to react.
The dog, wrenching from the policemans grip, surged forward as if she meant to bridge twelve years of absence in one desperate bound. She crashed into his arms, knocking him down, and for the first time in years, he felt neither the chill of his cell nor the weight of his chainsonly warmth.
He clutched her fiercely, burying his face in her thick fur. The tears he had denied himself for so long broke free. He wept openly, unashamed, like a child, while the dog whined softly, as though she understood their time was short.
“You’re my girl my faithful girl,” he murmured, holding her tighter. “What will you do without me?”
His hands trembled as he stroked her back again and again, as if committing every detail to memory. The dog gazed up at him, her eyes brimming with devotion.
“Forgive me for leaving you alone,” his voice cracked, gone hoarse. “I couldnt prove the truth but at least to you, I was always enough.”
The guards stood motionless. Some turned away. Even the sternest among them couldnt remain unmovedbefore them stood not a criminal, but a man clinging to the last fragment of his shattered world.
He lifted his eyes to the warden, his words breaking.
“Take care of her”
He begged the warden to take her home, promising in return that he would submit to his fate without resistance.
A heavy silence settled over them. The dog let out a sharp, defiant bark, as though protesting what was to come.
And the prisoner merely held her once more, embracing her as only a man saying farewell forever could.
