The Dog Who Chose Me

I was walking to work, already late, already grumpy, when a golden retriever tied outside a café spotted me. No hesitation just full tail-wag mode, tongue out, eyes sparkling.

I stopped for maybe three seconds to scratch behind his ears, and in that moment, the owner came out, coffee in hand. He saw me crouched there, both of us looking ridiculously happy, and smiled the kind of smile you give someone who just gets it.

We didn’t say a word. But for the rest of the walk, I carried that dog’s joy and that stranger’s smile like a warm pocket of sunlight.