A Dog That Gave Me a Second Chance After Betrayal
I was blissful with Emily.
My wife Emily and I married for love, despite the obstacles we faced. Our parents disapproved of our union – her family wasn’t well-off, and mine couldn’t claim any luxury either, but we had love on our side. The only ones who supported us were our friends.
Initially, life was tough. We couldn’t rent a flat because we were students with no steady income. We lived with friends – a month here, then there. We worked hard and saved every penny.
Finally, when we received our first paychecks, we rented a tiny attic. It was cold in winter, and the roof leaked, but to us, it felt like a palace. Because I was next to the person I cherished, and that was all that mattered.
With time, we found our footing, graduated from university, secured solid jobs, bought a spacious flat, and got a car. Our daughter was born. We strove to give her the best, and when she grew up, we sent her abroad for her studies. She quickly adapted to her new life and is now thriving.
I thought everything was perfect for Emily and me.
I was wrong.
Betrayal I Never Saw Coming
When she announced she was leaving, I couldn’t believe it.
I thought it was a cruel joke, a test of my love, a way to see my reaction.
But it wasn’t.
She silently packed her belongings, changed clothes, pulled a suitcase from the cupboard where we used to keep Christmas decorations, and walked towards the door.
“I’m sorry,” was all she said.
I stood frozen as she crossed the threshold, closing the door behind her… in that moment, my life shattered.
Pain That Tore Me Apart
The next day, I couldn’t even get out of bed. I called in sick to work, made up an illness, and lay there for a whole week.
I clutched Emily’s pillow, still holding her scent. I breathed it in, hoping that if I held on to the past long enough, it wouldn’t fade away.
But it vanished.
I stopped eating and disregarded everything around me.
The only living being that continued to believe in me was my dog, Max.
He Wouldn’t Let Me Give Up
Max wandered around the flat, looking into my face, nudging me with his paw. He seemed to be waiting for me to get up, for us to go out for our daily walk as usual.
I stepped outside for the first time in my life, wearing an old tracksuit, unshaven, completely numb.
When we returned, I crawled back into bed.
Then something unexpected happened.
Max stopped eating.
I put a bowl of food in front of him, but he merely laid down next to me, silently gazing with his warm eyes.
He even refused to go for a walk.
At that moment, I realized he wasn’t simply sad – he was showing me that I needed to pull myself together.
As if to say, “You can’t just give up.”
I forced myself to head to the bathroom and take a shower. As soon as I emerged, Max approached his bowl and began to eat.
He was waiting for me to take the first step.
That marked the beginning of my return to life.
A Fate Orchestrated by a Dog
I kept working, filling my days with tasks to keep from thinking.
But during the quiet evenings, loneliness would wash over me.
Max sensed it. He’d lay by my bed, resting his head under my hand as if to remind me, “You’re not alone.”
Months passed. One day, while walking with him in the park, I loosened the leash, and he suddenly took off.
I panicked and chased after him.
Then I saw him stop before a stranger – a man around my age, accompanied by another dog. Max calmly sat beside him, and the man smiled as he patted him on the head.
I halted, breathless.
“Lovely dog,” said the stranger. “I’ve seen him here before. But it’s the first time I’m seeing his owner.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
That’s how I met Oliver. Or more accurately, that’s how Max brought us together.
At first, we only encountered each other during walks.
Then we started meeting for coffee.
Soon 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 trash.
For the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe again.
Now, Oliver and I are together, but we’re in no rush – we live at our own pace and cherish each moment.
But I know this: without Max, I would have remained in the darkness that engulfed me after the betrayal.
My friend, my loyal dog, showed me that life goes on.
And perhaps the best is yet to come.
