The dog lingered by the morgues threshold, as if sensing that behind those doors, someone was trying to bring his owner back to life. And that “someone” was no ordinary doctor.
“Semionka, just hold on a little longer, Ill be done soon,” Vasily Andreyevich spoke into the phone, forcing his voice to sound as gentle and warm as possible. “Youre not too bored without me, are you?”
He set the receiver down carefully and smiled. Though his sharp features and heavy gaze made him seem stern, his heart was anything but. He knew his grandson could handle himself just fine. Semionka had already learned to watch movies, read books, even cook simple dishesnavy-style pasta or an omelet. Still, the boy sometimes called, saying he missed him Vasily understood it was just a game, a childs way of expressing affection, but those calls always softened his heart. He played his partsoothing, comforting, urging him not to be sad.
Two years had passed since Semionka had come to live with him. Two long years of pain, loss, and slowly rebuilding their lives.
He remembered the day he brought the boy home. The world had felt shattered. Vasily himself could barely stand, as if hed died and resurrected several times over just to keep going. But there had been no other choicehe had none. The only thing left after the tragedy was a six-year-old boy with hollow eyes, lost in his own thoughts.
The tragedy had struck on that cursed night when Semionkas parentsVasilys son, Misha, and his young wifewere returning from a gathering. Theyd called a taxi, wanting only to make it home. But right at the entrance, another cardriven at reckless speed by a drunk teenagerplowed into theirs. The impact was horrific. Of the three, only Semionka survived. Small, fragile like a broken toy. How had he lived? A miracle. Even the paramedics, whod seen everything, could only shake their heads. “A guardian angel shielded him,” they muttered. The car had been torn to pieces, yet Semion escaped nearly unscatheda few scratches, likely from being pulled from the wreck.
Vasilys wife had passed long agowhen Misha was sixteen. After that, he became his sons guardian, and later, Semionkas. Time flowed, but the grief never eased. After his son and daughter-in-laws deaths, Vasily nearly lost the will to live. His thoughts spiraled: “Why us? Why did this happen?!” But one day, he looked into his grandsons eyesempty like winter sky over a deserted parkand realized: if he gave up now, Semionka would be entirely alone. And that was unacceptable.
Months passed. Only after half a year did Semion start behaving like a normal childquiet, pensive, but slowly returning to himself. Vasily went back to work. At first, their neighbor Nina Petrovna, a kind-hearted woman with maternal warmth, would watch over the boy. She helped, supported, ensured he wasnt left alone. As he grew more independent, she visited occasionallyjust to check on him, to feed him.
Nina Petrovna was wonderful, but she had one habit that irked Vasily: her relentless matchmaking. She constantly introduced women, dropping hints. At first, he didnt understand the sudden influx of potential suitors.
“So, Vasyuk, none of them caught your eye?” she once asked.
Then it clicked. He laughed.
“Nina Petrovna, are you trying to marry me off?”
Her expression sobered.
“Whats so funny? Youre young, healthy, yet still single Its not right! You could make someone happyand you wont die alone!”
Vasily had to promise hed “consider the ladies” just to get her off his back. But Nina wasnt the only one whod taken notice. Other women openly flirted. It annoyed him so much he quit his hospital jobmoving to the forensic morgue. Maybe he shouldve done it sooner. After the loss of his family, such advances just grated on him.
He was only fifty. Hed had his son at eighteen, his grandson at thirty-nine. He was still in good shapeexercised, had steady hands, drank sparingly.
His shift was ending. It was quietthe afternoon team handled patients now. Vasily stepped out for a smoke. Spring was just awakening, the air fresh with hope.
A massive dog sat by the door, staring so mournfully it tugged at his heart.
“Whats wrong, did they bring one of yours? Dont be sad, old boy Go home, itll be alright.”
The dog sighed like a human, took two steps, then sat again.
An hour later, Vasily stepped out once moretime to leave. The dog still hadnt moved, whining softly, as if begging to be let in. Strange behavior. Dogs sensed death. Why was this one so restless?
“Kolia! Whod they bring in? Whose dog is this?”
The young orderly, studying to be a medic, answered at once.
“Found a woman on the street. No ID. Probably walked the dog and then”
“Where is she?”
“In therethey havent taken her yet. Piertowicz will examine her soon.”
Piertowicz, Vasilys replacement, always started his day with hot tea.
“Lets check on her,” Vasily said. “Looks about forty, no visible injuries, yet she doesnt look like shes gone.”
He took her handand froze.
“What?! Shes alive!”
The orderly, Igor, nearly fainted.
“Get her on a stretcher and call Piertowicz!”
Vasily tossed his bag, shrugged off his coat. Her pulse was faintbut there.
Piertowicz arrived, immediately took over.
“Well, wella would-be visitor! Easy now, well bring you back. What were you thinking, hm?”
Minutes later, an ambulance arrivedthe same crew as before. Their faces showed shock.
“How is this possible? Her pressure was zero!”
They hooked her to IVs and monitors. Vasily and Piertowicz walked them out. The dog bounded joyfully around them.
As the ambulance left, Vasily sat beside the dog.
“Good jobyou probably saved her. Now she just has to recover. What about you?”
The dog studied him, head tilted. Unexpectedly, Vasily offered:
“Want to come with me? I have a grandson, Semionkahe loves dogs. When your owner recovers, you can go back.”
The dog wagged its tail and barkedagreement, it seemed.
“Alright,” Vasily thought, “smart, but *this* smart?” Turned outyes.
He lived nearbya fifteen-minute walk. The dog stayed close, almost glued to his leg, never straying.
“Semionka! Im homeand I brought company!”
The boy rushed out, saw the dogeyes lighting up.
“Grandpa!”
“Meet your new friend. Dont know his name yet, but hes exceptionally clever.”
“Whered you find him?”
Semionka hugged the dogs neck. Vasily tensedstill a strange animal. But the dog licked the boys face, tail wagging.
“Long story! Lets have dinner and feed him. Bet hes hungry.”
The dog ate a little, drank water, then looked at Vasily again.
“He wants something”
“Grandson, think hes asking where to sleep!”
“Wow!”
Vasily laid out a folded blanket by the armchair. The dog settled, resting its muzzle on its paws.
“Grandpa, hes sad”
“How could he not be? He nearly lost his owner.”
He told the boy everything. Semionka sat beside the dog.
“Dont worry. Shell get better!”
The dog laid its head on the boys lap and sighedjust like a person.
The next morning, Vasily went joggingtaking the dog.
“What should we call you? Just Friend?”
The dog gave a soft barksensing not to wake Semionka.
He stopped at a storebuying a leash, food, bowls. At noon, at his grandsons urging, he made calls. Within half an hour, he knew where the woman was. He phoned a doctor friend.
“Vasily! Heard about your heroics!”
“What heroics? The medics did the work.”
“Listen, its a rare case! Sugar dropped to zero, then a heart attack. No signs of life”
“How is she now?”
“You know meI love these cases! Shell pull through, trust me! Conscious, still on IVs, but out of danger. What about the dog? She keeps saying, Friend, Friend Worried sick.”
“Tell her not to. Friends with me. When shes better, Ill bring him.”
“Youre a saint! Visit usAnd so, under the warm sun by the sea, with laughter and wagging tails filling the air, the four of themVasily, Marina, Semionka, and Friendbegan their new life together.
