Three Lonely Souls Crossed Paths
An older yet still elegant woman pinned another notice to a lamppost before shuffling away, her shoulders slightly hunched. Her slender frame had nearly disappeared into the swirling snow when a scrawny, freezing dogits fur patchy and its breed impossible to guesspaused beneath the dim streetlight.
Shivering from cold and hunger, its eyes watering, the dog struggled onto its hind legs and read the sign: *”Lonely woman seeks a friend.”* *That must be me,* the dog thought. *Im the truest friend anyone could haveloyal to the bone. And I belong where Im needed.*
Tearing the paper loose with its teeth, the dog mustered the last of its strength and followed the fading footprints of the woman, tracks only a dog could trace through the deepening snow.
The bitter winter day gave way to an even harsher night. The snow burned its paws, its sparse fur grew sodden and crusted with ice, and exhaustion threatened to close its eyes for good. But still, stumbling and staggering, the dog pressed on, drawn by the call of a lonely soul searching for companionship.
At last, its legs gave way. The snow was too heavy, too cold. Just a few steps ahead, beyond a fresh drift, stood a tall iron gateand behind it, the lonely woman, restless with a strange mix of hope and dread. Unable to sleep, she stepped outside in her slippers and dressing gown, numb to the chill, waiting for fate to arrive.
Then, the snow beside her shifted. A half-frozen creature, barely alive, emerged, clutching a crumpled paper in its jawsits eyes brimming with devotion. Smudged but legible, the words read: *”Lonely woman seeks a friend.”*
Careful not to hurt it, the woman cradled the shivering dog and carried it inside. A quick Google search led her to an emergency vet. With a trembling voice, she called for help.
Miraculously, the dog pulled through. The well-spoken vet prescribed injections and recommended quality dog food. With no other calls that night, he lingered to share tea and biscuits, and soon they were deep in conversation.
Unmarried, he admitted hed never understood why women dismissed him for caring more about animals than clubbing or chasing interns. None appreciated the midnight rescuespiecing together a broken cats leg or helping a dog through a difficult birth.
*”Not exactly riveting dinner talk for most,”* he sighed. *”Theyd rather hear about jewellery than see the gratitude in a saved creatures eyes.”
*
The woman listened, a spark lighting in her own. *”Do you have many patients at the clinic?”* she asked. *”Too many,”* he replied. *”Holiday accidents, poisonings, cruelty cases. Ive got rounds in an hourbandages, IVs. Im on call tonight.”*
*”May I come?”* she said. *”I can help. I know how.”*
A year later, a happy family lived in that pretty little housenow warmed by the presence of a well-groomed dog and the constant scent of freshly baked biscuits.
