Around four in the morning, a dog started barking behind the houses. By five, the barking grew louder. People began waking up for work, annoyed by the noise. Half an hour later, residents were already leaving their homes, heading out for the day.
The first to step outside were a man and a woman, likely husband and wife. They decided to see what all the fuss was about. Walking toward the garages, they spotted the dog. It barked relentlessly, its snout pointed toward the houses. Behind it, a man lay motionless on the ground. The couple hurried toward the animal, realising it was calling for help.
The closer they got, the fiercer the barks became. It was a German Shepherd, a serious breed, not one to approach lightly. The woman suggested calling an ambulance.
The paramedics arrived quickly. As they stepped out, the woman warned them about the dog. Yet when they neared the injured man, the barking stopped. The dog moved to its owners side and sat quietly.
The medics crouched carefully, keeping an eye on the animal. The man, youngaround 35had a severe abdominal wound and was bleeding heavily. They worked fast, administering first aid while the dog watched.
By then, a small crowd had gathered at a safe distance. No one dared come closer.
One of the paramedics fetched a stretcher. They lifted the man gently but couldnt take the dog with them. The animal stared, but rules were rules. The ambulance drove off slowly, and the dog chased after it, sometimes falling behind, sometimes catching up.
At the hospital, the ambulance stopped at the gate. The security guard raised the barrier, but the dog halted in front of him.
“Thats the injured mans dog,” the driver explained.
“And what am I supposed to do with it?” grumbled the guard before shouting, “Stay! Down! Sit!”
The German Shepherd hesitated but obeyed. It sat by the gate, watching the ambulance disappear. After an hour of waiting, it lay down near the wall, keeping out of the way.
At first, the guards kept a close watch, but when it became clear the dog wouldnt cause trouble, they only glanced occasionally.
“What do we do with it?” one asked.
“Nothing. If it wants to stay, let it.”
“But what if the owner takes ages?”
“Its clever. Itll leave soon enough.”
“Poor thing. Should we feed it?”
“If you do, youll only encourage it.”
The dog simply watched them, alert.
Forty minutes later, one guard returned with news.
“The mans out of surgery. Hes in ICU, but stable. Brought some food for the dog.”
He set down a plate with a sausage and some water near a tree. The dog stared but didnt move.
“Go on, eat. You can drink.” The guard tried to remember his commands.
The dog stood but hesitated, eyeing the man, the food, and the gate before sitting again.
“Suit yourself.”
Slowly, the dog approached the plate and drank the water.
A week later, the owner was in a recovery room. He missed his companion but had no way of knowing where it was.
Theyd been together since he left the army due to an injury. Theyd served together, and together theyd returned to civilian life. He hoped his clever dog would manage on its own.
Meanwhile, the German Shepherd had settled under a tree, still guarding the gate. One of the guards started feeding it regularly and had an idea.
After his shift, he went to the mans room.
“Afternoon. Are you Mr. Wilson, James?”
“I am. Whats wrong?”
“Im security at the hospital. Your dogs still outside, waiting. Weve been feeding her, but she wont leave.”
James smiled, closing his eyes.
“Thats her. Daisy. We served together. Shes sharp as a tack.”
“We noticed,” the guard laughed, relieved. “Want me to tell her anything?”
James grabbed a tissue, rubbing it over his hands and face.
“Take this bag to Daisy. Shell understand.”
The guard handed the bag to the dog. She sniffed the tissue for a long moment before carrying it under the tree, lying down on top of it.
In the days that followed, Daisy waited. And when James finally walked out of the hospital, their joy was boundless. Theyd been through too much together to give up now.
And she had waited.
