**Diary Entry 12th March**
Since my wife passed away, my dog has been my only true companionthe one thing that keeps me going. I trust her more than anyone else. Shes always been the picture of obedience and calm, never barking without reason or snapping at strangers. Her gentle nature made her beloved by everyone.
That afternoon, we were strolling through town, and I felt the weariness of age creeping in. I settled onto a bench along the pavement, and she curled up at my feet, content. Everything seemed ordinarypeople bustling past, cars humming by, the two of us simply enjoying the quiet moment.
Then I noticed a man approaching. Nothing about him stood outaverage height, plain clothes, utterly unremarkable. Yet there was something off in his stride: too quick, too tense, his gaze sharp and slightly nervous. The moment he drew closer, my dog stiffened, her hackles rising as a low growl rumbled in her throatsomething shed never done before.
Before I could react, she lunged forward with a fierce, guttural bark, yanking the lead so hard I nearly lost my grip. The man froze, visibly startled, and stammered, “ErmI just wanted to ask the time…”
But her reaction was too strange, too intense. And then, it struck me why.
His voice wavered oddly, his eyes darting as if scrambling for an excuse. A knot twisted in my gut. I gave a curt reply and pretended to check my phone, and he hurried away, shooting us a dark look over his shoulder.
It took me minutes to steady my nerves, stroking her head to soothe us both. Later that evening, flipping through the local news, I frozethere he was. His face stared back from a police appeal. A known thief, wanted for a string of robberies, distracting victims before snatching their wallets or bags.
Thats when I understood. My clever girl had sensed danger before I did. Maybe it was instinct, maybe something deeperbut she knew. And she hadnt let him near.
Who knows what mightve happened without her? It settled in my heart all over again: a dog isnt just a pet. Theyre guardians. Family. The truest friend youll ever have.
