Dog That Brought Me Back to Life After Betrayal
I was blissfully happy with Emily. My wife, Emily, and I had wed out of love, despite all the obstacles. Our families opposed our marriage; her family was not well-off, and mine couldn’t boast much wealth either, but we had love. The only ones who supported us were our friends.
Initially, we faced many challenges. As students without a steady income, we couldn’t afford our own flat. We stayed with friends—one month with some, the next with others. We worked however we could, saving every penny.
When we finally received our first paychecks, we rented a tiny attic apartment. It was freezing in winter, and the roof leaked, but to us, it was a true palace. We had each other, and that was all we needed.
As time passed, we found stability, graduated from university, landed good jobs, and bought a spacious flat and a car. Our daughter was born, and we strove to give her the best. When she grew older, we sent her abroad for her studies. She settled in quickly, and now her life is thriving.
I thought everything was perfect between Emily and me.
I was mistaken.
The Betrayal I Did Not Expect
When she announced she was leaving, I could hardly believe it.
It felt like a cruel joke, as if she was merely testing my love and waiting to gauge my reaction.
But that wasn’t the case.
Silently, she packed her belongings, changed her clothes, retrieved the suitcase from the cupboard where we’d once kept Christmas decorations, and walked towards the door.
“I’m sorry,” were her only words.
I watched her cross the threshold and shut the door behind her… and in that instant, my world crumbled.
The Pain That Tore Me Apart
The following day, I couldn’t even get out of bed. I called work, lied saying I was ill, and remained in bed all week.
I grasped Emily’s pillow, still holding her scent, inhaling it, hoping that if I clung to the past long enough, it would not vanish.
But it did.
I stopped eating and became oblivious to the world around me.
Yet there was one living being that continued to believe in me—my dog, Max.
He Wouldn’t Let Me Give Up
Max wandered around the flat, gazing at me, nudging me with his paw. He expected me to get up and take him for a walk as we always did.
I stepped outside for the first time in days, dressed in an old tracksuit, my face unshaven, utterly dazed.
When we returned, I climbed back into bed.
And then something I did not expect occurred.
Max refused to eat.
I placed his bowl in front of him, and he would just lie beside me, gazing silently with his warm eyes.
He even refused to go for walks.
In that moment, I realized: he wasn’t just sad—he was showing me I needed to pull myself together.
As if trying to convey, “You can’t just give up.”
I forced myself to head to the bathroom and take a shower. Once I emerged, Max approached his bowl and began to eat.
He had been waiting for me to take the first step.
That was the beginning of my return to life.
Fate Crafted by a Dog
I kept working, loading myself with tasks to avoid dwelling on my thoughts.
But in the evenings, when the flat grew too quiet, an overwhelming loneliness would envelop me.
Max sensed it. He would lie by my bed, resting his head on my arm, as if reminding me, “You are not alone.”
Months went by. One day, while taking him for a walk in the park, I loosened his leash, and he suddenly dashed away.
I panicked and ran after him.
Then I saw him stop in front of a strange man—about my age, with another dog. Max sat calmly by his side as the man smiled and petted him.
I halted, breathing heavily.
“Lovely dog,” the stranger said. “I’ve seen him here before. But this is the first time I’ve seen his owner.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
That’s how I met Oliver. Or rather, how Max introduced us.
At first, we only met during walks.
Soon, we began grabbing coffee together.
Then coffee turned into wine.
Eventually, we realized we didn’t want to be alone anymore.
One Saturday, I gathered everything that reminded me of Emily, packed it into a box, and tossed it in the bin.
For the first time in ages, I felt like I could truly breathe again.
Now, Oliver and I are together, but we’re in no rush—we live at our own pace, savoring every moment.
But one thing I know for certain: without Max, I would have remained in that darkness following the betrayal.
My friend, my loyal dog, showed me that life goes on.
And perhaps the best is yet to come.
