Around four in the morning, a dog started barking behind the houses. By five, the barks grew louder. People began waking up for work, annoyed by the noise. Half an hour later, residents were already heading out, grumbling as they left.
The first to step outside were a man and woman, likely husband and wife. They decided to see what all the fuss was about. Walking toward the garages, they spotted the doga German Shepherdbarking nonstop, its muzzle pointed toward the homes. Behind it, a man lay motionless on the ground. The couple hurried over, realising the dog was calling for help.
The closer they got, the fiercer the barks became. German Shepherds arent the easiest to approach, but the woman suggested calling an ambulance.
The paramedics arrived quickly. As they stepped out, the woman warned them about the dog. But when they neared the injured man, the barking stopped. The dog walked over to its owner and sat quietly beside him.
The paramedics knelt carefully, keeping an eye on the dog. The man, youngmaybe mid-30swas bleeding badly from his abdomen. They worked fast, stabilising him while the dog watched.
A small crowd had gathered at a safe distance. No one dared come closer.
One paramedic fetched a stretcher. They loaded the man gently, but rules meant the dog couldnt come. It stared as they drove off, then sprinted after the ambulance, keeping pace as best it could.
At the hospital, the ambulance stopped at the gate. The guard raised the barrier, but the dog froze.
“Thats the injured blokes dog,” the driver explained.
“What am I supposed to do with it?” the guard muttered before barking, “Stay! Down! Sit!”
The German Shepherd hesitated but obeyed. It sat by the gate, watching the ambulance vanish inside. After an hour, it lay down near the wall, out of the way.
The guards kept an eye on it at first, but when it showed no sign of causing trouble, they relaxed.
“What do we do with it?” one asked.
“Nothing. If it wants to stay, let it.”
“But what if the owners in there ages?”
“Its smart. Itll leave eventually.”
“Poor thing. Should we feed it?”
“If you do, youll never get rid of it.”
The dog just watched, alert.
Forty minutes later, one guard returned with news. “The mans out of surgery. ICU, but stable.” He set down a bowl of sausage and water near a tree. The dog stared but didnt move.
“Go on, eat. Have a drink.” The guard tried to sound firm.
The dog stood but hesitated, eyeing the man, the food, and the gate before sitting again.
“Suit yourself.”
Slowly, it crept forward and drank the water.
A week later, the owner was in a recovery room. He missed his dog but had no way of knowing where it was. Theyd been together since he left the army after an injuryserved together, adjusted to civilian life together. He trusted his clever girl to manage.
Meanwhile, the German Shepherd had settled under a tree, still guarding the gate. One guard had started feeding it and got an idea. After his shift, he went to the mans room.
“Afternoon. Youre Mr. Wilson, James?”
“I am. Whats happened?”
“Im hospital security. Your dogs still outside, waiting. Weve been feeding her, but she wont leave.”
James smiled, closing his eyes. “Yeah, shes mine. Millie. 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 her. Shell understand.”
The guard handed it over. Millie sniffed the tissue for ages before carrying it under the tree, lying on it like a treasure.
In the days that followed, she waited. And when James finally walked out, their reunion was everything. Theyd been through too much to give up now.
And shed waited.
