“Something to love,” I murmured. “Something to fill the silence.”
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Fine. But I’m not dealing with some yappy little thing.”
And that’s how we ended up at the local animal shelter.
The Dog No One Wanted
The moment we stepped inside, chaos erupted—dozens of dogs barking, tails thumping, paws scratching at their cages.
All of them desperate for attention.
All except one.
In the farthest kennel, curled in the shadows, was Maggie. She made no noise. Her thin, fragile body barely moved as I knelt beside the bars. Her fur was patchy, her ribs visible, and her graying muzzle rested on her paws, as if she had already accepted her fate.
I read the tag on her cage, and my chest tightened.
Senior Dog – 12 Years Old – Health Issues – Hospice Adoption Only.
Greg stiffened beside me. “Oh, come on,” he scoffed. “We’re not taking that one.”
But I couldn’t look away.
Maggie’s tired brown eyes met mine, and her tail gave the faintest wag.
“This one,” I whispered.
Greg’s voice hardened. “You’re joking, right? Clara, that dog is already halfway to the grave.”
“She needs us.”
“She needs a vet and a miracle,” he snapped. “Not a home.”
I turned to face him fully. “I can make her happy.”
Greg laughed bitterly. “You bring her home, I’m leaving. I’m not going to sit here and watch you obsess over a dying dog. That’s pathetic.”
I stared at him, stunned. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do,” he said coldly. “It’s her or me.”
I didn’t hesitate.
The Beginning of Something New
Greg was already packing his bags when I carried Maggie home.
As we stepped inside, she paused at the doorway, her frail body trembling. She glanced up at me, as if asking if this was real.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, kneeling beside her. “We’ll figure it out.”
Greg stormed past us, dragging his suitcase behind him. “You’ve lost it, Clara,” he spat. “You’re throwing everything away for that dog.”
I didn’t answer.
His hand hovered on the doorknob, waiting for me to stop him. Waiting for me to say, You’re right, come back.
Instead, I reached for Maggie’s leash and unclipped it.
Greg let out a humorless laugh. “Unbelievable.” And then he was gone.
The door slammed shut, and the house fell into silence.
But for the first time, it didn’t feel so empty.
Healing Together
The first few weeks were brutal.
Maggie was weak, barely eating. I spent hours researching homemade meals, blending soft food, and coaxing her to eat with patience and whispers.
Meanwhile, the reality of my marriage unraveling hit like a slow-moving wreck. When the divorce papers arrived, I laughed bitterly at first—not because it was funny, but because it was real.
Then I cried.
But Maggie was there.
She’d nuzzle my hand when I sobbed into my coffee. Rest her head in my lap when the house felt too big.
And then, something shifted.
She started eating more. Her fur, once dull and patchy, grew shinier.
One morning, as I reached for her leash, she wagged her tail.
“Feel like a walk today?” I asked.
She let out a soft woof—the first sound I had ever heard from her.
For the first time in months, I smiled.
Running Into the Past
Six months later, I was stepping out of a bookstore, coffee in one hand and a novel in the other, when I nearly collided with someone.
“Clara,” a familiar voice drawled.
I froze.
Greg.
He stood there, smirking, his shirt crisp, watch gleaming. He looked me up and down, as if trying to size up my life in one glance.
“Still all alone?” he asked, voice dripping with fake pity. “How’s that dog of yours?”
There was something sharp in his words, a cruelty meant to wound.
I smiled. “Maggie?”
“Yes, Maggie,” he said, crossing his arms. “Let me guess. She’s gone, isn’t she? Was it worth it?”
I stared at him, not hurt by his words, but by how little he meant to me now.
“You don’t have to be so heartless, Greg.”
He shrugged. “Just being realistic. You gave up everything for that dog. And now look at you.”
Before I could answer, a familiar voice called out.
“Hey, Clara. Sorry, I’m late.”
Greg’s smirk disappeared.
I turned, and there was Mark—coffee in one hand, Maggie’s leash in the other.
Her fur shone in the sunlight, her tail wagging as she bounded toward me.
Mark leaned down to kiss my cheek.
Greg blinked, his jaw slack. “Wait… that’s…”
“Maggie,” I said, scratching behind her ears. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Greg’s eyes darted between us, his face twisting. “But… how is she…?”
“She’s thriving,” I said, standing tall. “Turns out, all she needed was love and care. Funny how that works.”
Mark handed me the leash, smiling. “Ready for the park?”
I didn’t look at Greg as he stood there, seething. I didn’t need to.
“More than ever,” I said, walking away.
A New Beginning
Six months later, we were back at that same park.
The sun dipped low, casting golden light across the grass. Maggie trotted toward me, something tied to her collar.
I frowned. “Maggie, what’s this?”
Mark grinned. “Why don’t you check?”
I untied the tiny box, my fingers trembling. Before I could process it, Mark was on one knee.
“Clara,” he said softly. “Will you marry me?”
I glanced at Maggie, who wagged her tail like she had been planning this moment herself.
I laughed through my tears. “Of course.”