It started out like every other school morning.
Leo was wearing his favorite dinosaur hoodie, gobbling down cereal even though we weren’t running late. Max, our golden retriever, sat loyally under the table, hoping for a spill that never came. Ever since we moved to the neighborhood, Max had formed a special habit—he’d walk Leo to the bus stop every morning without fail.
But it wasn’t just a sweet routine.
Every day, Max would sit beside Leo, press one paw gently on his leg, and look up at him with an intensity that felt more serious than playful. At first, I thought it was a cute sign of loyalty. Over time, though, it started to feel more meaningful—almost like Max was trying to tell us something.
That morning, Max didn’t even wait to be leashed. He darted out ahead, sat on the sidewalk like a statue, and pressed his paw on Leo’s knee again—firmer this time. Not rough, but deliberate.
Leo looked at him and said softly, “I’ll be back, Max. Promise.”
Still, Max didn’t move.
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