You recently visited the pound, feeling the weight of your loneliness. Among the barking and whimpers, one dog caught your eye—not just because she looked sad, but because… she looked almost human.

You learned she was days away from being put down. Nobody wanted her. But something in her eyes—hope, maybe—moved you.

The moment the cage opened, she lunged at you—not out of aggression, but joy. Her tail wagged, tongue out, ears perked.

You carried her back with you to your apartment. For the first time in a long time, the silence didn’t feel so heavy.