Edward was meandering home from the office. A typical English winter evening: damp mist draped over everything, muffling the world in a peculiar melancholy. Passing the corner shop, he saw a dog sitting by the binsa wiry ginger mongrel. Its eyes were round and pleading, haunted like those of a lost child.
What do you want, then? Edward grumbled, but paused all the same.
The dog lifted its scruffy head and stared, asking nothing, just looking.
Waiting for your owners, perhaps, he thought, and shuffled on.
But the next evening, and the one after that, the scene repeated itself, as constant as drizzle. The mongrel seemed rooted to the spot. Edward began to notice: neighbours passed by without a glance, though someone occasionally tossed her a bit of pork pie or a stray sausage.
Why are you still here? he asked one damp afternoon, crouching beside her. Wheres your family?
The dog slid forward hesitantly and rested her head on his shin.
Edward froze. How long had it been since hed ruffled anyones hair or felt soft fur between his fingers? Three years since the divorce. His flat was nothing but cold walls, a humming fridge, the silent television, and work.
My dear Maisie, he murmured, surprised by the name that rose unbidden.
The next day, he brought her some sausages.
A week later, he posted a message on the internet: Found: Ginger mongrel. Looking for owners.
No one replied.
After a month, Edward trudged home from a night shifthe was an engineer, often on call round-the-clockonly to find a knot of people gathered outside the corner shop.
Whats happened? he asked Mrs. Jenkins, his neighbour.
Oh, the dogs been run over, the one thats been sleeping here these past few weeks.
His stomach caved in.
Where is she?
Took her to the vet over on Churchill Avenue. But theyre asking a small fortune… Whod pay for a stray?
Saying nothing, Edward turned and sprinted.
At the surgery, the vet shook his head gravely. Multiple fractures, internal bleeding. The treatment will be expensive. And honestly, she may not make it.
Go ahead, Edward said, voice steady. Whatever it takes, Ill pay.
When she was discharged, he took her home.
For the first time in three years, his flat was filled with life.
Everything changed. Radically.
Edward woke not to his alarm, but to Maisies cold nose nudging his palmTime to wake up, old chap, she seemed to say. Hed rise, grinning.
Once, the morning meant strong tea and the news; now, it began with a stroll through the rain-speckled park.
Ready for a walk, my girl? hed laugh, and Maisie would wiggle with delight.
At the surgery, he sorted her papersa pet passport, vaccinations, an official record. She was his, now. He even photographed the forms, just in case.
His colleagues marvelled.
Edward, you seem younger. Got a spring in your step!
He truly felt neededfor the first time in years.
Maisie proved astonishingly clever. She understood him. When he worked late, shed meet him at the door, casting him a worried look as if to say: I was fretting, you know.
In the evenings, they wandered the park for ages. Edward would chatter to her about work or lifeodd? Perhaps. But she seemed to listen, sometimes whining softly as if in sympathy.
You see, Maisie, hed tell her, stroking her head, I once believed life was simpler alone. No one to bother you, no one to miss. Turns out, I was just scared to love again.
Neighbours grew used to them. Mrs. Pearce from number twenty-three always saved a bone.
Shes a lovely dog, she’d say. Quite obvious youre her favourite.
A month slipped by, then another.
Edward considered starting a social media page for Maisieshe was photogenic, her ginger coat gleaming golden in the rare sun.
And then something unexpected happened.
On an otherwise ordinary walk, Maisie sniffed among the hedges while Edward scrolled through his phone, perched on a bench. Someones voice cut through the fog:
Rosie! Rosie!
Edward glanced up. A woman in her mid-thirties, decked in designer tracksuit, her platinum hair perfectly coiffed, strode over. Maisie tensed, ears flat.
Excuse me, Edward said. You must be mistakenthis is my dog.
The woman put her hands on her hips.
What do you mean, yours? Id recognise my Rosie anywhere! She went missing six months agowe searched everywhere! And youve stolen her!
What?
Yes! She slipped her collar right outside our block. Ive looked everywhere! You nicked her!
Edwards world tilted.
Hold on. How did she go missing? I found her abandoned by the corner shop. She sat there for weeks, homeless!
She sat there because she was lost! She means the world to uswe paid a fortune for her!
Paid? But shes a mongrel.
Shes a pedigree cross! Very expensive!
Edward rose. Maisie pressed herself against his legs.
Well, he said, if shes yours, show some proof.
What kind of proof?
Vet papers. Vaccinations. Anything, really.
The woman faltered. Theyre at home. But I know my RosieRosie, come! she demanded.
Maisie stood stock-still.
Rosie! Come here, now!
The dog crammed herself tighter to Edward.
You see? he whispered. She doesnt know you.
Shes sulking, thats all! the woman snapped. But I want her back and I demand you return her to me!
I have documents, Edward replied calmly. Vet bills for her treatment after the accident. Official registration. Receipts for dog food and toys.
I dont care about your paperwork! This is theft!
People had begun to watch.
Shall we let the law decide? Edward said, pulling out his phone. Ill call the police.
Go on! the woman huffed. I have witnesses!
What witnesses?
Neighbours saw her escape!
Heart hammering, Edward dialled 999. What if she was telling the truth? What if Maisie had run away from her?
But why had she sat, wretched, by the shop for so long? Why did she cling to him now?
Hello? Police? I need some help
The woman smirked. Youll see. Justice will be done.
Hand over my dog!
And Maisie kept pressing herself against him.
In that moment, Edward understoodhe would fight for her, to the last.
Maisie was more than a dog, now.
She was family.
The local bobby, Sergeant Hammond, arrived in half an hour. He was a slow-moving, thoughtful type; Edward remembered him from housing association meetings.
Lets hear it, he said, flipping open his notebook.
The woman burst out first, voice quick and tangled. Shes my dog, Rosie! Cost us ten thousand pounds! She ran off six months agoI searched everywhere! He stole her!
Found her, actually, Edward replied quietly. By the shop. Shed been there a monthstarving.
She sat there because she was lost!
Hammond bent to look at Maisie, who glanced up with tired, trusting eyes, unmoving at Edwards feet.
Have either of you documents?
I do, Edward said, opening his folderthankfully hed not taken the papers out after their last vet trip.
This is the vets note after her accident. Heres her passport. All her shots up to date.
Hammond leafed through.
Do you have anything? he asked the woman.
All at home! But whats the difference? I know my Rosie!
Can you say how she went missing? Hammond inquired.
We were out walking. She yanked free from her lead and ran. I searched everywhere, put up posters.
Where did you walk?
The park. Just nearby.
And where do you live?
Churchill Avenue.
Edward clenched his fist.
Wait. Thats two miles from the shop where I found her. If she got lost in the park, howd she end up there?
She must have wandered!
Dogs usually know their way home.
The woman blushed. What do you know about dogs?
Edwards voice was soft. I know that a cherished dog doesnt sit, starving, in the same spot for a month. Shed be searching for her owner.
One question, Hammond cut in. You say you searchedput up posters. But did you report her missing to the police?
To the police? I never thought to.
In six months? A dog worth ten grand, and you never filed a report?
I figured shed turn up!
Hammond frowned.
May I see your identification please?
The woman fumbled in her handbag, hands trembling.
He checked her details. Address on Churchill Avenue, flat twenty-three, yes. And the date you lost the dogcan you recall exactly?
Twentieth, maybe twenty-first of January.
Edward checked his phone. I took her home on the twenty-third. Shed already been at the shop for nearly a month.
So, she must have got lost even earlier.
Maybe I got the date wrong! The womans voice shook.
Suddenly, she broke. All right! Fine, keep her! But I really did love her!
Silence.
How could you? Edward asked, barely above a whisper.
My husband said we had to move; no pets allowed at the new flat. Couldnt sell hershes hardly a pedigree. So I left her by the shop. Figured someone kind might take her.
Edwards insides twisted.
You abandoned her?
I left her! Didnt throw her away, just left. Good people, I thought.
And why do you want her back?
She sobbed. My husbands left. Im aloneits miserable. I wanted Rosie back. I really did love her.
Edward stared, incredulous.
Love? Loved pets dont end up on the kerb.
Hammond snapped his notebook closed.
Legally, she belongs to Mr Edwards here. Treated, registered, and cared for. No dispute.
The woman hiccuped, But I changed my mind! I want her back now!
Too late for that, Hammond said drily. You abandoned herwhats done is done.
Edward crouched and hugged Maisie.
Its all right, love. All fine now.
May I may I stroke her, just once more? the woman asked.
Edward looked to Maisie; she folded her ears, burrowing into his arm.
You see? Shes afraid of you.
It wasnt on purpose. Circumstances
Listen, Edward straightened, circumstances dont create themselves. People do. You made your choices, left a living creature behind. And now, you want to change things because it suits you.
She wept. But Im so lonely.
And she loved sitting in the rain, waiting for you for a month? Did you think of her then?
The silence, thick as fog.
Rosie, the woman whispered for the last time.
Maisie didnt budge.
The woman turned and hurried away, never glancing back.
Hammond clapped Edwards shoulder.
Youve done the right thing. Shes yoursthats plain.
Thank you. For understanding.
No trouble. Im a dog-lover myselfI know how it is.
When the policeman was gone, Edward and Maisie were left alone.
Well, girl, he said, gently rubbing her head, no one will take you away now. I promise.
Maisie looked up at him, her eyes full of warmth and the odd, endless loyalty that only a dog can give.
Love.
Shall we head home?
Her bark was joyful, and she frolicked by his side.
On the way, Edward mulled over the womans words. She was right, in a waycircumstances can always change. You might lose your job, your flat, your savings.
But some things cant be lost: responsibility, love, compassion.
At home, Maisie curled up on her favourite rug. Edward made a pot of tea and sat beside her.
You know, Maisie, he mused, maybe things worked out for the best. At least now, we know for surewe need each other.
Maisie gave a contented sigh.
