The dog refused to leave the morgues doorstep, as if sensing that behind those doors, someone was trying to revive its owner. And that “someone” was no ordinary doctor.
“Semionka, just bear with me a little longer, Im almost done,” Vasily Andreevich said into the phone, his voice as gentle and warm as he could make it. “Not too bored without me, eh?”
He carefully set the receiver down and smiled. At first glance, he might have seemed stern, with sharp features and a heavy gaze, but inside, he was entirely different. He knew his grandson handled himself just fine. Semionka had already learned to watch movies, read books, and even cook simple mealsnavy-style pasta or an omelet. Still, the boy sometimes called, saying he missed him… And though Vasily understood it was a game, a childs way of expressing affection, his heart softened each time. He played his part: soothing, comforting, urging the boy not to be sad.
Two years had passed since Semionka came to live with him. Two long years of pain, loss, and painstakingly rebuilding their lives.
He remembered the day he brought his grandson home. Back then, it felt like the world had shattered. He could barely stand, as if hed died and resurrected several times just to start anew. But he had no choice. All that remained after the tragedy was a six-year-old boy with hollow eyes, lost in his own thoughts.
The tragedy struck that cursed night when Semionkas parentsVasilys son, Misha, and his young wifewere returning from a gathering. They hailed a taxi, wanting only to get home. But right at their doorstep, another cardriven by a drunk youth at breakneck speedrammed into theirs. The impact was horrific. Of the three, only Semionka survived. Small, fragile as a broken toy. How? It was a miracle. The paramedics, whod seen it all, just shook their heads: “A guardian angel shielded him.” The car was torn to shreds, yet Semion emerged almost unscathedjust a few scratches, likely from being pulled from the wreck.
Vasilys wife had left this world long agowhen Misha was sixteen. Then, the grandfather became Mishas guardian, and later, Semionkas. Time passed, but the grief lingered. After losing his son and daughter-in-law, 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 as winter skies over an abandoned parkand realized: if he gave up now, Semionka would be utterly alone. That could not happen.
Months slipped by. Only after half a year did Semion start behaving like a normal child again: quiet, pensive, but slowly becoming himself. Vasily returned to work. In the early days, their neighbor Nina Petrovna, a kind woman with a motherly heart, watched over the boy. She helped, supported, made sure Semion wasnt left alone. As he grew more independent, she dropped by occasionallyto feed him, check on him.
Nina was wonderful, but she had one habit that often irked Vasilyshe kept trying to marry him off. Endlessly introducing women, dropping hints. At first, he didnt understand the sudden influx of ladies around him.
“Well, Vasia, not one caught your eye?” she once asked.
Then it clicked. He laughed:
“Nina Petrovna, are you trying to pawn me off?”
Her face fell.
“Whats so funny? Youre young, healthy, still single… Its not right! You could make someone happyand not die alone!”
Vasily promised to “consider the ladies” just to get her off his back. But Nina wasnt the only one whod noticed him. Other women started flirting. It irritated him so much he quit his hospital jobswitching to forensics. Perhaps he shouldve done it sooner, but after his familys deaths, female attention grated on him.
He was only fifty. Had his son at eighteen, his grandson at thirty-nine. Still in good shapeexercised, skilled hands, drank only on rare occasions.
His shift was ending. Quietthe afternoon team had taken over. Vasily stepped out for a smoke. Spring was just awakening, the air fresh with promise.
A massive dog sat by the door. Its longing gaze wrenched his heart.
“Whats wrong? Someone you know brought in? Dont fret, old boy… Go home, itll be alright.”
The dog sighed like a human, took two steps, and sat back down.
An hour later, Vasily left againtime to go home. The dog still sat there, whimpering softly, as if begging to be let in. Strange. Dogs sensed death. Why was this one so restless?
“Kolia! Who was brought in? Whose dog is this?”
A young medicplanning to study medicineanswered promptly:
“Found a woman on the street. No ID. Probably out walking her dog when…”
“Where is she?”
“Over there, not moved yet. Piertowicz will come soon to examine her.”
PiertowiczVasilys reliefalways started his day with hot tea.
“Lets check on her,” Vasily suggested. “Looks around forty, no visible injuries, but doesnt seem dead.”
He took her handand froze.
“What?! Shes alive!”
The medic, Igor, nearly fainted.
“Onto the stretcherand shout for Piertowicz!”
Vasily tossed his bag, shrugged off his coat. Her pulse was weak, but there!
Piertowicz rushed in and got to work:
“Well, well, a sneaky one! Easy now, well revive you! What were you thinking, hm?”
Minutes later, an ambulance arrivedthe same crew from earlier. Their faces mirrored astonishment.
“How is this possible?! Her pressure was zero!”
They hooked her to IVs and monitors. Vasily and Piertowicz walked them out. The dog pranced around joyfully.
As the ambulance drove off, Vasily sat beside the dog:
“Good jobyou mightve saved her. Now she needs to recover. What about you?”
The dog tilted its head, studying him. Unexpectedly, Vasily offered:
“Come with me? Ive got a grandson, Semionkaloves dogs. When your mistress recovers, youll go back.”
The dog wagged its tail and barkedagreement, it seemed.
“Alright then,” Vasily thought. “Smart, but not *that* smart…” Turned out, it was exactly that smart.
He lived nearbyfifteen minutes walk. The dog stayed close, almost glued to his leg, never straying.
“Semionka! Im backand not alone!”
The boy rushed out, saw the doghis eyes lit 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 stranger. But the dog licked the boys face, tail wagging.
“Long story. Lets eat dinner and feed him. Bet hes hungry.”
The dog ate a little, drank water, then stared at Vasily.
“He wants something…”
“Grandson, think hes asking where to sleep!”
“Wow!”
Vasily unfolded a blanket, folded it neatly near the armchair. The dog lay down, resting its muzzle on its paws.
“Grandson… hes sad.”
“Hard to be happy when he nearly lost his owner…”
He told the boy everything. Semionka sat beside the dog:
“Dont worry. Shell get better!”
The dog sighedjust like a humanand rested its head on the boys lap.
At dawn, Vasily went jogging, taking the dog.
“What should we call you? Just… Friend?”
The dog gave a soft barkas if agreeing they shouldnt wake Semionka.
On the way back, he stopped at a storebought a leash, food, bowls. At noon, at Semionkas urging, he called the hospital. Within half an hour, he knew where the woman was. He phoned a doctor friend.
“Vasily! Heard about your miracle!”
“What miracle? The medics did the work.”
“Listen, this is rare! Sugar dropped to zero, plus a heart attack. No signs of life…”
“And now?”
“You know meI love these cases! Shell pull through, believe me! Conscious, on IVs, but out of danger. Listen, what about the dog? She keeps saying, Friend, Friend… Worried sick.”
“Tell her not to. Friends with mewhen shes better, she can have him back.”
“Youre a saint! Visit us. Semionka and the dog can walk, and youll fill her in. Well lift her carefullylet her see through the windowThe next morning, as sunlight streamed through the hospital window, Marina smiled at the sight of Friend wagging his tail beside Semionka and Vasily, knowing she had finally found a family again.
