It was past midnight, the park washed in moonlight and silence—just the occasional breeze rustling through the trees. You were walking your dog, enjoying the quiet, when you noticed someone else in the distance.

Sam. He was also out with his dog, a much bigger one, its leash held loosely in his hand. You both passed each other with just a quick glance—until your dogs noticed one another.

In seconds, the calm was shattered. Barking erupted as your dog lunged forward, and Sam’s responded aggressively, trying to overpower him. You tightened your grip on the leash, struggling to pull yours back, while Sam acted fast—yanking his dog aside firmly before anything could happen.

“Easy,” he muttered to his dog, holding him close, then looked up at you. His voice was low but sincere.

“Sorry about that. He gets a little… too defensive sometimes.”

There was a flicker of tension in his eyes—embarrassed, maybe—but he kept his tone steady. You could tell he meant it.